Council tax rise of 2% is planned
Householders in Cornwall are facing a near 2% rise in council tax next year while budgets are slashed by more than £30 million.
Draft proposals for Cornwall Council's 2013-14 financial strategy have been laid out ahead of next week's meeting of the cabinet.
They outline a potential council tax hike of 1.97% – the first in two years – while the council must also find a further £30.4 million in savings following Government cuts to its grant.
Council leader Jim Currie, who heads a coalition of Conservatives and Independents at County Hall, said: "The budget proposals already require all services to deliver further efficiencies to cover the costs of inflation and changes in legislation.
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"We appreciate that many people are already struggling to pay their bills but the scale of the financial challenges we are facing means that increasing council tax is the only option if we want to continue to provide a full range of services for people in Cornwall."
Political opponents at County Hall immediately went on the offensive after details of the proposed budget were revealed.
The proposed hike would mean bills rising by £24 a year, to £1,268, for a Band D home.
Councillor Jeremy Rowe, leader of the Liberal Democrat group, said it was "increasingly clear that Cornwall needs shot of this failed Tory administration".
He added: "Cornwall's Conservatives have a record, but it is not one of keeping council tax low or protecting services. It is one of wastefulness and indecision."
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