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02
Feb
Police council tax hike necessary to cover 'inflationary pressures', says mayor
The Mayor of York and North Yorkshire has said a police precept hike is necessary to help combat the force’s “inflationary pressures”.
Labour’s David Skaith has tabled a proposal to increase North Yorkshire Police's share of council tax by £14 in 2025/26.
The move would mean the force’s precept would rise to £320.86 in the coming year.
Justifying the increase, the mayor said the move was required to help police meet inflationary pressures such as pay awards.
In a report due before North Yorkshire’s police, fire and crime panel, Mr Skaith added:
This [the £14 increase] would raise around £4.4 million, matching the organisation’s inflationary pressures.
Current levels of service delivery would be maintained and it would hopefully allow some investment. For example, in neighbourhood policing, early intervention and prevention activities and tackling violence against women and girls.
Councillors on the police, fire and crime panel will consider whether to support the hike at a meeting on February 6.
The move comes as Mr Skaith is also set to increase the fire precept by 28.9% — a rise of £24 on the 2024/25 precept.
It would mean a Band D property would pay £107.02 in 2025/26 towards the running of the fire service.
Last week councillors criticised the move and called on the Labour mayor to show evidence over government lobbying for a fairer funding settlement, which they argued would have avoided such a sharp increase.
Mr Skaith said he inherited a fire service facing a challenging financial position that needed investment.
With other increases in the precepts charged by North Yorkshire Council, parish councils and for policing, council tax bills look set to rise sharply in April.
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