Moray Council recommended to put council tax up by 3% next week
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MORAY Councillors will be asked to increase council tax by 3 per cent next week.
The rise would generate £46.55 million for the council as its tries to balance its books.
Councillors will meet on Tuesday to approve a £240.7 million expenditure budget.
In a report which will go before a special meeting of the full council, depute chief executive Rhona Gunn (economy, environment and finance) says savings of £1.57 million have been identified in the current year.
However, she will outline to councillors that bigger savings will be required in 2023-24 of £12.9 million and £6.8 million in 2024-25.
Chief financial officer Lorraine Paisey adds: "The council has made savings totalling £56 million since 2010-11 and it is increasingly difficult to identify areas where further savings can be made whilst delivering the statutory duties of a local authority."
She says grant funding from Scottish Government has increased marginally in cash terms over the last 10 years, but "considerably less than the cost of new duties required of local authorities".
The Tory group on the council has called for a council tax freeze.
A 3 per cent increase, if approved, would see the council tax bands rise by the following:
- Band A £881.91 to £908.37
- Band B £1028.90 to £1059.77
- Band C £1175.89 to £1211.16
- Band D £1322.87 to £1362.56
- Band E £1738.11 to £1790.25
- Band F £2149.67 to £2214.16
- Band G £2590.62 to £2668.35
- Band H £3241.03 to £3338.27
Councillors will also be asked to approve a £555.4 million, 10 year capital plan.
The council currently has £5 million in general reserves, which are for unforeseen emergencies and contingencies.
Tuesday's meeting of the full council will be a virtual one due to the pandemic, with councillors meeting by video conferencing technology.
The public can watch the meeting via the council's webcast service.
