Coventry Tax Hike Sparks Outrage Unsustainable Say Residents

Coventry residents are very upset about a tax increase. The city council decided to raise council tax by 4.9 percent. This change means paying about £97 more per year. Part of the rise, two percent, is for social care funding.

The council stated the average household pays £96.77 extra. Labour and Green councillors voted to approve it. Conservatives wanted a smaller 4.3 percent increase. They suggested saving £1 million to make it work.

Conservative councillor Peter Male said residents deserve relief. He thinks they need a break from rising taxes. The opposition criticized the 4.9 percent increase. Councillor Gary Ridley called it a political, not economic, choice. Ridley also stated taxes are higher now.

He noted more potholes and poor excuses. Readers shared their thoughts online about it. One person believes Coventry’s services are poor for high taxes. Another person wondered about unpaid council tax millions. They think people owing matters more than this rise.

Someone else said student grants benefit the council over residents. Students not paying does not affect the council. One commenter mentioned government cuts to local budgets. A person thinks Labour wasted money on various projects.

They point to bus lanes and the Godiva Festival. Some feel taxpayer money disappeared due to these projects. Another person thinks there is corruption and mismanagement.

They suggested withholding payment to show control. They pay £204 monthly, a large amount on minimum wage. Someone else thinks most tax goes to irresponsible people. A reader calculates a continuous 5% rise is unsustainable.

Since 2020, prices increased 25 percent. Another person thinks it will reach 63 percent in ten years. Residents want improved services and accountability.