Aberdeenshire Council will set its budget for 2017/18 on 9th February.
Recently, I have written about how the Scottish Government made a decision to increase council tax in only bands E-H from April outwith any locally-decided change. The changes made by the Scottish Government in these bands are below:
Band Current rate New rate
E £1,394.56 £1,499.15
F £1,648.11 £1,854.13
G £1,901.67 £2,234.46
H £2,282.00 £2,795.45
These figures of course exclude any water and sewerage costs which are automatically added to our annual bills, if we are eligible to pay them.
There is an option for Aberdeenshire Council when considering the new year’s budget to raise council tax on all bands A-H by up to 3% over and above the Scottish Government’s imposed rise on E-H bands as above.
Cuts will have to be made anyway as central government funding has decreased. What are your views on Aberdeenshire Council raising council tax to prevent even more cuts in services?
I think the current SNP government should run the countries finances better and thus not require an increase to the council tax.
I also have a business premise and they are planning to put up the Business Rates by 250%. How do they expect to create jobs / wealth with policies like this.
Thanks Graham, the Business Rates issue is a big one as we’ve seen in the papers over the last few weeks. Here is some information about how you can appeal the valuation.
– Contact your regional and constituency MSPs. They will be voting on the Scottish Budget. It has not been passed YET. The easiest way to do that is via the impartial http://www.writetothem.com/ website
– Lobby MSPs to include transitional relief in the Scottish Budget.
– Contact the local Chamber of Commerce.
Notices will be issued on 15 March 2017.
By the way, although councils collect non-domestic rates, the money goes to the Scottish Government in Edinburgh.