How much more council tax could YOU have to pay? Four MILLION households face rises up to 5 times legal limit in months
MILLIONS of hard-pressed Brits face eye-watering council tax hikes, with bills set to rise by as much as 25 per cent in some areas.
A staggering 4.4 million people across eight councils could see their bills skyrocket after struggling local authorities begged ministers to approve rises way beyond the usual legal limit.
In Windsor and Maidenhead, families are bracing for a £451 hit to the average bill as the Lib Dem-run council pushes for a whopping 25 per cent increase.
If approved, it will be the largest hike in England for two decades.
Benjamin Elks, of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, slammed councils for piling on the pain.
He told the Daily Mail: “Local taxpayers are fed up with having to pick up the tab for reckless councils.
“As hard-working households across the country tighten their belts, local authorities are refusing to rein in their out-of-control spending, squandering cash on pointless pet projects.
“It’s high time town halls focused on delivering core services efficiently, not asking local residents to keep funding their dangerous addiction to spending.”
Under the rules, councils can normally only raise bills by up to 5 per cent unless they hold a referendum.
But cash-strapped authorities on the brink of bankruptcy can bypass this with government approval – a decision that now rests with Housing Secretary Angela Rayner.
Where Bills Are Rising Most
- Birmingham: Residents could see a second 10 per cent rise, meaning Band D bills will jump by £400 over two years.
- Bradford: The Labour-led council, bailed out with £220 million last year, is seeking a 15 per cent increase – adding £170 to the average bill.
- North Somerset: Lib Dem leaders want to push up bills by 15 per cent, costing the average household £256 extra.
- Carmarthenshire: Residents potentially face a 9.75% hike, adding £199.68 a year to a band D property’s bill
Even more pain is planned in Slough, Newham, and Hampshire, where hikes of up to 15 per cent are being lined up for future years.
A spokesman for the Local Government Association said: “Many councils have faced the tough choice about whether to increase bills to bring in desperately needed funding to provide services at a time when they are acutely aware of the significant burden that could place on some households.
“However, while council tax is an important funding stream, the significant financial pressures facing local services cannot be met by council tax income alone. It also raises different amounts in different parts of the country – unrelated to need.
“Councils need a significant change in our funding to stabilise local government finances so we can deliver the services local people want to see.”
A spokesman for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: “No decisions have been made on council tax increases and we will only consider agreeing to requests for rises above 5 per cent in exceptional circumstances, in line with the previous government’s position.
“Councils are ultimately responsible for setting their own council tax, and we will put taxpayers at the forefront of any decision.”