Maximum council tax rise allowed planned in Dudley
Council tax in Dudley is to go up by the maximum allowed by the government from April.
Households will pay 4.99 percent more – the limit which can be charged without a referendum needed to approve a rise.
Council chiefs say it will mean an extra £1 a week for the average home but residents will still pay some of the lowest rates in the country.
Councillor Steve Clark, cabinet member for finance, putting forward the budget said: “This has been a year like no other and we know there are still difficult times ahead. Covid continues to impact our lives in ways we could never have imagined and brought unprecedented challenges to our public services.
“We continue to support businesses, communities and residents through this crisis and, with the help of government funding, have been providing unparalleled levels of financial assistance to those who need it.”
He added “We never take a decision to increase council tax lightly, however with levels in Dudley some of the lowest in the country and the lowest in the Black Country, increases are difficult to avoid if we want to continue to provide services people will be proud of.”
The Treasury has told local authorities they can increase council tax by 1.9 percent and charge an extra 2.9 percent for adult social care.
A property in Band D will pay an additional £68.91.
On top of this will be added extra charges set by the police and fire services but which are collected by the local authority.
The new proposed tax bands are: A £967.01, B £1,128.18, C £1,289.35, D £1,450.51, E £1,772.85, F £2,095.19, G £2,417.52 and H £2,901.03.
The budget will be discussed at the council’s cabinet on Thursday, February 11.
