The Reform administration on Worcestershire County Council has confirmed they plan to hike council tax by 8.98% this year.
In response, Cllr Adam Kent, Conservative Group Leader on Worcestershire County Council, said:
"Well Reform have published their proposed budget increase for council tax in Worcestershire.
"After Reform campaigned on reducing taxes in May elections last year. I’m absolutely appalled that they have proposed a council tax increase of 8.98%.
"This will cause severe damage to residence in Worcestershire already under severe financial pressure with rising costs and taxes.
"Reform were given permission to increase the council tax by 9% by their Labour friends so have been incredibly generous to the public of Worcestershire by cynically reducing that 9% by a mere 0.02% to 8.98% in a vain attempt to make it look like they didn’t do the full 9%.
"There is also a transformation plan proposed which is incredibly un-ambitious and doesn’t address the issues that are facing the council at this particular point in time.
"The council needs to cut its costs accordingly and not place the entire burden on residents.
"Reform have lost control of the finances this year and the public of Worcestershire is paying a heavy price.
"Also in the budget is a request to government to borrow a further £60 million which will be repayable by the public of Worcestershire. If this cost had to be met with an in year council tax rise with 1% of council tax equal to £3.6 million this would mean a further increase of over 16%.
"There is the incredible paragraph within the budget papers that authorise an expenditure of £500,000 to use consultants to come up with a transformation program to reduce costs within the council.
"You don’t need consultants to understand what needs to be done.
"Also the comment in the papers in para 9 that the strategic directors and assistant directors must ensure that services are delivered within the agreed financial envelope for 26/27. I’m astounded this wasn’t done for 25/26 perhaps a 20 minute cabinet meeting when first elected wasn’t the way to go.
"PLEASE SIGN the petition against this massive council tax hike and let’s apply the right level of pressure and let the administration know that this MASSIVE RISE is unacceptable."
Worcestershire Conservative's oppose Reform's Council Tax mega-hike.
Please sign our petition to make sure your voice is heard.
