CARMARTHENSHIRE County Council has approved a Council Tax increase of 4.45 per cent, or £50.99 a year for the average band D property – that’s roughly an extra 98p a week.
When combined with the precepts for the Dyfed Powys Police Commissioner and Town and Community Councils, the average band D property will now pay £1,500.35 a year before any discounts or exemptions are applied.
Next year, Carmarthenshire County Council will spend around £560million providing services to residents and businesses in Carmarthenshire.
Council Tax contributes to around £86million, just 15 per cent of this budget. The remaining £474million is funded by government grants and fees and charges.
The biggest share of residents’ Council Tax is spent on education and children’s services (£570.43), followed by housing and adult social care (£292.37).
The remainder is shared between economic development, cultural, environmental and planning services (£142.18), other council services for example Council Tax benefit, ICT, property and democratic services (£101.62), and roads and transport (£56.84).
Council Tax also funds the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service (£33.16).
Cllr David Jenkins, Carmarthenshire County Council’s executive board member for resources, said: “Council Tax contributes to just over 15 per cent of the council’s £560million annual budget, helping us pay for vital services such as education, housing and social care.”
Many people, such as single occupants and people with special circumstances, have discounted Council Tax, and this week council also agreed to exempt care leavers from Council Tax payment until they reach the age of 25.
More information about discounts and exemptions is available on the council’s website www.carmarthenshire.gov.wales
People can also visit the website to set up a Direct Debit payment – the easiest way to pay, with a choice of three payment dates a month and automatic annual renewal.
*All figures are based on an average Band D property and have been rounded up to the nearest penny.
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