Wellingborough residents are set to see an increase in their council tax rate next year following approval from councillors.
A flat increase of £5 in council tax for 2016-17 was approved by Wellingborough Council at a meeting held on Tuesday, March 1.
Documents published ahead of the meeting stated: “The resources committee has considered the budget proposals for 2016-17 to 2019-20 as part of the medium term financial plan and its recommendation is to increase the borough council element of council tax in 2016-17 by £5 to £100.71.
“The committee also recommends increasing the council tax in 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20 by either £5 or 1.99 per cent, whichever is the greater, subject to meeting the referendum criteria.”
Addressing councillors at last night’s meeting, council leader Paul Bell spoke of financial pressures facing local governments remaining high meaning the council must find ways to save money.
He also said projects such as the new crematorium and the Stanton Cross development were significant and key to the future of the borough, both in terms of growth and economic value.
Wellingborough Council is one of 51 councils in the country with the lowest level of council tax, which saw it ranked as the 24th lowest in 2015-16.
The report considered by the resources committee last month showed that even if the council tax increased by £5 per annum for each year over the medium term, the council would still be in the lowest quartile and one of the lowest council taxes in the country.
A £5 increase on a Band D property is an increase of 5.22 per cent, which is equal to about 10p per week or 42p per month.
You can read the full story on the Northants Telegraph website here.