Town councillors will tonight (Monday) vote on proposals to raise council tax bills in Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge by just five pence a week in an effort to help residents feeling the financial pinch.
Despite the increasing cost of providing public services in the town, members of the Town Council’s Policy and Finance Committee have proposed implementing a small budget increase in their proportion of the tax, which will be voted on tonight.
Under the proposals, the Town Council’s total precept for the financial year 2013-2014 would amount to £542,882 – an increase of £13,838 (2.62%) over last year’s budget.
With the tax base adjustment, the increase for an average Band D property in Burnham and Highbridge will be £2.86 per year, equivalent to 5.5p per week.
The budget includes the provision of higher costs for some services, such as dog bin emptying at £24,600 and £25,000 for improvements to the council chambers’ heating system. A final decision on the precept demand will be made during tonight’s Town Council meeting.
