At a meeting on 13th February 2013, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority will be considering a detailed report setting out a proposed budget for 2013/2014.
The Authority will be considering a range of options from a freeze on Council Tax to an increase of 2%.
The table below shows how those options would affect your household;
|
Valuation Band |
Current Council Tax £s per year |
Increase in council tax £s per year if 1.3% increase is made |
Increase in council tax £s per year if 2% increase is made |
|
A To £40,000 |
41.40 |
0.53 |
0.83
|
|
B £40,001 to £52,000 |
48.30 |
0.62 |
0.96 |
|
C £52,001 to £68,000 |
55.20 |
0.71 |
1.10 |
|
D £68,001 to £88,000 |
62.10 |
0.80 |
1.24 |
|
E £88,001 to £120,000 |
75.90 |
0.98 |
1.52 |
|
F £120,001 to £160,000 |
89.70 |
1.16 |
1.79 |
|
G £160,001 to £320,000 |
103.50 |
1.33 |
2.07 |
|
H Over £320,000 |
124.20 |
1.60 |
2.48 |
To balance the budget, because of the potential effects of reductions in Government Grant and changes to the system for Council Tax support, this reduction is cautiously estimated as requiring an increase in Council Tax of 1.3% or alternatively a third year of a freeze on Council Tax, offset by the receipt of Freeze Grant for a further two years.
A freeze is the Government’s preferred option and it is offering extra grant equivalent to a 1% increase in Council Tax to those Authorities which freeze Council Tax in 2013/2014. If the Authority were to choose that option, because of the continuing reductions in other Grants in future years, the increase in Council Tax for the year after next (2014/2015) would need to be in the order of 4%, or savings in addition to those of £1million already planned would need to be identified.
The Government has determined that increases in Council Tax of above 2% must be subject to a local referendum. Were the Authority to opt for a Council Tax increase of 2% this would meet the Authority’s own increase in net expenditure and add monies to Financial Reserves to meet in part the significant reductions in Grant in the two years after 2013/2014 but still require an increase of 3% in the year after next.
The Authority has stressed that it is not proposing any reductions in front line emergency services in 2013/2014 whatever council tax level is agreed.
A full copy of the Budget report is available on our website at: www.northyorksfire.gov.uk/about-us/financial-information/accounts
You can give your views on these proposals by email CAO.ServiceInformation@northyorksfire.gov.uk, visit our facebook page North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service or our Twitter page @NorthYorksFire by the 31st January 2013.
