Carmarthenshire County Council has approved a Council Tax increase of 4.89 per cent, or £61.38 a year, for the average band D property – that’s roughly an extra £1.18 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 £1,666.84 a year before any discounts or exemptions are applied.
Next year, Carmarthenshire County Council will spend around £603million providing services to residents and businesses in Carmarthenshire and a further £106million investing in capital projects which will include regeneration schemes, redevelopment of schools, highway and leisure facility improvements and provision of affordable housing.
Council Tax contributes to around £97million towards the County Council budget, just 16 per cent of the total spend. The remaining £506million is funded, in the main by government grants and fees and charges.
The biggest share of residents’ Council Tax is spent on education and children’s services, followed by housing and adult social care.
The remainder is shared between economic development, cultural, environmental and planning services, other council services for example Council Tax benefit, ICT, property and democratic services, and roads and transport.
Council Tax also contributes towards the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service.
Cllr David Jenkins, Carmarthenshire County Council’s executive board member for Resources, said: “Council Tax contributions help us pay for vital services such as education, housing, highways, waste and social care. We are mindful of the pressures being faced by local families, but have to balance that consideration with the cost of providing quality services for our communities.”
Many people, such as single occupants and people with special circumstances, have discounted Council Tax, and care leavers are exempt from Council Tax payment until they reach the age of 25.
People can set up a Direct Debit payment – the easiest way to pay, with a choice of three payment dates a month and automatic annual renewal.
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