Council tax in Walsall may rise by 1.95pc
Council tax bills in Walsall are set to rise by 1.95 per cent next April – the first increase for three years.
Walsall Council has decided to reject the offer of a Government grant worth the equivalent of a one per cent rise, which will only be provided if the bills are frozen at 2010's rates again.
Wolverhampton, Dudley, South Staffordshire and Lichfield are still considering the offer. Stafford Council is planning to freeze council tax in return for a £65,000 grant.
For the past two years, the Government has offered councils the equivalent of a two per cent rise to freeze bills but is halving the grant next year.
Council tax bills in Walsall would rise between £19.91 and £59.74 a year depending on the value of people's homes under the plans.
Walsall's Conservative leader Councillor Mike Bird said: "Cabinet has decided not to accept the council tax freeze grant.
"But it is a draft budget so far."
