Some Scottish council bosses are planning big tax hikes to help to address shortfalls, as years of under-investment in local government start to show – but some Daily Record readers in our comments sections say that there’s only so far councils can go with local taxes before it becomes untenable for people.
The SNP Government say that they’ve provided a fair deal under the circumstances and that council bosses are happier than they have been in recent times. A rise in National Insurance contributions was expected to be a big additional burden on councils, but First Minister John Swinney says that extra funding will mean that council tax hikes this year won’t be as bad as expected in most places, with some fearing 10% rises or more.
Glasgow Council, for example, is planning a 5% rise, while Edinburgh is believed to be aiming for 8% after years of cuts impacting local services. East Lothian Council is due to make a decision on a hike up to 10.6% next week, while the troubled North Lanarkshire Council wants to address a £14 million gap in finances.
Some Record readers are warning that they’re being squeezed from all sides, and something is going to have to break. On our Facebook page, Christopher Richard Duffy says: “There’s gonna be a point when no one is gonna be able to pay bills. Everything goes up 10% or more, yet people who work won’t get a pay rise like that, if you are lucky they are just squeezing every last penny you’ve got, but isn’t enough for them. Getting to be a complete joke.”
Commenter Suffolk N Doddle writes: “Jeez, they will need to shorten my month between pay days!”
Alison Craig says: “And what does this pay for? Look how terrible all that is, why should we pay? Can’t even get a hospital appointment or get from A to B without traffic lights, everywhere digging up roads constantly, and they’re still a joke.”
In our comments section, Rippedoffinuk writes: “I live in East Lothian and a 10.6% increase is obscene. We get bin collections once every three weeks, they don’t take your brown bin without paying additional cost. There are far too many council staff and even more managers. The bloated staff should be cut and there should be time and motion reports done for all staff.
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“There should be a spending review of all wasted money, and council housing should not be receiving new kitchens, bathrooms and decorating every two years. The council are well known for wasting money. We also need a review of the amount of asylum seekers we’re paying to house, and other expenses they incur. If we can’t afford them then we shouldn’t be taking them. You cannot expect the working tax payers to continue to pay for Labour’s expensive vanity projects either, we’re being fleeced continuously by Labour councils and the government.”
Others see it as paying the price for past deals. Reader Greenend52 says: “The council tax is going up because of the Scottish Government decided to freeze the council tax for 4 years. With that freeze the councils had to lay off workers to pay for the freeze. The councils only get a percentage of money from the Scottish Government and have to make up the difference with council tax. It pays for your council workers, social services, lighting for the roads, road works (pot holes!), libraries, and to help to pay the cost of care homes.”
Donaldcw54 writes: “Paying the penalty for previous freezes before, and the Scottish government’s reduction in real terms of allocations to councils. SG held cash due to Councils to pay for the freebies. We got what we voted for. No complaints please.”
Have your say! Are you worried about the upcoming council tax hikes? What will it mean for you and people you know? Comment below, and join in on the conversation.