Summary
Starting in April, council tax bills in England will increase by an average of 4.9%. This tax rise is meant to help local councils manage financial pressures but surpasses the current inflation rate, impacting the cost of living.
Key Facts
- Council tax for a typical Band D property in England will rise to £2,392 per year, an increase of £111.
- Most councils can raise council tax by up to 5%, but a few have permission to increase it even more due to financial challenges.
- In Shropshire, council tax for Band D properties will go up by 9%, while in North Somerset, it will increase by 8.6%.
- Some areas like Hartlepool and Middlesbrough will see smaller increases of about 2.5% on average.
- Councils with responsibilities for social care can raise tax by up to 5%.
- Current inflation stands at 3%, meaning the council tax rise will exceed inflation.
- Council tax funds about half of local councils' budgets for services such as social care, libraries, and street cleaning.
- There are changes coming in government funding that will affect how much councils receive and may influence future tax increases.
