Residents in East Lothian face a 10% council tax hike as leaders warn restoring services will take years. Rent could also rise for tenants.
East Lothian: The council is facing some tough times ahead. They just announced a 10% rise in council tax. This is a big deal for residents.
Council leader Norman Hampshire mentioned that it’ll take years to get public services back on track. It’s not just about the tax hike; tenants might see their rent go up too.
Even with an extra £12 million from the government, they still need that tax increase to balance the budget. It’s estimated that this will bring in over £9 million for the council.
For residents, this means an extra £2.75 a week. For tenants, a 7% rent increase could mean about £5.75 more each week. That’s a lot for many families.
While the funding boost is welcome, it won’t fix everything. Hampshire stressed that every 1% increase in council tax is a £700,000 investment in the area.
The budget is now open for discussion among the political parties. They need to submit their proposals soon, with the final budget set to be agreed on February 18.
Hampshire hopes for a cross-party agreement to ensure services continue. The community is counting on them to make this work.
