CARMARTHENSHIRE County Council has approved a Council Tax increase of 4.89 per cent, or £58.57 a year for the average band D property – that’s roughly an extra £1.13 a week.
When combined with the precepts for the Dyfed Powys Police Commissioner and Town and Community Councils, the average band D property will now pay £1,587.69 a year before any discounts or exemptions are applied.
Next year, Carmarthenshire County Council will spend around £564million providing services to residents and businesses in Carmarthenshire and a further £105 million investing in capital projects to regenerate the economy and provide affordable housing.
Council Tax contributes to around £91million towards the County Council budget, just 16 per cent of the total spend. The remaining £473million is funded, in the main by government grants and fees and charges.
The biggest share of residents’ Council Tax is spent on education and children’s services (£595.79), followed by housing and adult social care (£303.74) *All figures based on an average Band D property and have been rounded up to the nearest penny.
The remainder is shared between economic development, cultural, environmental and planning services (£153.59), other council services for example Council Tax benefit, ICT, property and democratic services (£106.93), and roads and transport (£60.04).
Council Tax also contributes towards the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service.
Cllr David Jenkins, Carmarthenshire County Council’s executive board member for Resources, said: “Council Tax contributes to just over 16 per cent of the council’s £564million annual budget, helping us pay for vital services such as education, housing and social care.”
Many people, such as single occupants and people with special circumstances, have discounted Council Tax, and care leavers are exempt from Council Tax payment until they reach the age of 25.
People can set up a Direct Debit payment – the easiest way to pay, with a choice of three payment dates a month and automatic annual renewal.
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