Anglesey’s Executive has today (Monday, February 18th) recommended a 9.5% Council Tax increase, in a bid to protect school budgets and other vital services.
The County Council faces its biggest financial challenge to date after another cut in funding from Welsh Government.
It is seeking to overcome a £7m funding gap before any increase in Council Tax during 2019/20.Growing pressure on social services; as well as the cost of an increase in teachers’ pay award, pay inflation and general price inflation must all be met.
Finance portfolio holder, Councillor Robin Williams, explained, “Anglesey Council has been forced to slash its Budget by more than £24m since 2013/14. This year alone, we have had to make cuts in services totalling around £2.5m. Like other Welsh Councils, we have not seen an end to austerity and our residents and communities continue to suffer as a result.”
“This year’s Welsh Government settlement has reduced our funding, whilst costs continue to rise significantly. Increasing demand has led to over spending in some services, which in turn has eaten into our financial reserves, leaving us now unable to use them to balance this year’s budget.”
He added, “We therefore have no option but to raise Council Tax to meet the funding gap and protect vital Council services.”
Executive members also backed proposals to raise second home council tax premium to 35% and the empty property council tax premium to 100.
Council Leader, Councillor Llinos Medi, said, “Given the intense financial pressures faced, we have found it increasingly difficult to protect school budgets over the past two years. A reduction in teaching staff has seen class numbers increase and this in turn could impact standards and have dire consequences on the future education of our children.”
“We understand that any increase in Council Tax won’t be popular, but it’s vital that services like education and social services are protected as much as possible for the future of our children and young people.”
The Executive’s recommendations will now go before the Full Council, which meets on Wednesday, February 27th to conclude deliberations for the 2019/20 Budget.
If the Executive’s proposals are backed, Anglesey’s Council Tax will still remain the second lowest in North Wales and around £70 less than the Welsh average.
Ends 18.2.19