Thank you for your interest in this story
To continue reading this article, subscribe to the Stray Ferret for as little as £1 a week
Already a subscriber? Log in here.
08
Feb 2021
'Not the time' to pay more for North Yorkshire policing
Now is the not the time to hand North Yorkshire's taxpayers another significant increase in the police precept, the county's police commissioner has said.
Julia Mulligan, North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, said the force had already had increases in the police precept in recent years and is expecting further funding for more officers.
She told a meeting of the North Yorkshire’s Police, Fire and Crime Panel that it was not the time to put a "significant tax burden” on the county during a pandemic.
Read more:
- Pateley Bridge police station to be sold
- Julia Mulligan pledges to visit Ripon to hear crime fears
- How much Harrogate council taxpayers could be paying in 2021
The panel agreed a 1.99% increase in the precept for 2021/22 - which will set the rate at £271.06 for a band D property.
Commissioners across the country were given flexibility to increase police precepts by a maximum of £15, which would have resulted in a 5.64% hike in North Yorkshire.
But Mrs Mulligan said the force was well funded and would have to deal with a smaller budget this year.
She said:
Ms Mulligan added that she recognised the proposed increase of 1.99% was “not generous”, but said the force would have to “work hard” to offer services within its budget.
Meanwhile, Michael Porter, chief finance officer for the commissioner, said the response to precept consultation showed that the public was not as supportive of an increase as in recent years.
It comes taxpayers in Harrogate could be set to pay an average of more than £2,000 on their council tax bills this year.
North Yorkshire County Council and Harrogate Borough Council have planned increases in their share of council tax.
Councillors on both authorities will vote on the proposed increases at budget meetings later this month.
0