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10
Feb 2021
Harrogate council backs council tax hike
Councillors on Harrogate Borough Council have backed a £5 increase in council tax for this coming year.
The hike will see the council’s share of council tax rise to £250.92.
It means taxpayers in the district could see their overall bill, which includes rates for county council and police and fire services, increase to more than £2,000 in 2021/22.
Councillors voted for the increase at a full council meeting tonight as part of the authority's budget plans.
Cllr Graham Swift, cabinet member for resources on the borough council, said the budget was put together despite coronavirus impacting on the council's finances.
Cllr Swift said:
Read more:
- ‘Not the time’ to pay more for North Yorkshire policing
- How much Harrogate council taxpayers could be paying in 2021
It comes as council has forecast a cost of £5.9 million this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Officials said the authority had lost income in car parking, sport and leisure and the Harrogate Convention Centre.
Meanwhile, councillors also voted for an amendment to the budget to increase pay for the lowest employees to £9.50 per hour.
Elsewhere, North Yorkshire County Council is set to decide on a 3.49% increase in their share of council tax next week.
It would see the authority’s share rise to £1,411.05.
Cllr Carl Les, leader of the county council, said the move is one of the most difficult decisions for the council in recent years.
He said:
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