Edinburgh Tax Hikes Residents Demand Visible Benefits from Council

People in Edinburgh are upset. Scotland had a big council tax increase, the biggest rise in 20 years. The government wanted smaller increases, but councils raised rates a lot. Many went up by at least 7.5 percent. Some areas even saw 10 percent increases, like in the Borders and North Lanarkshire, while Fife’s increase was 8.2 percent.

A newspaper asked people what they thought. Many wanted more transparency about where the money goes. June Whitelaw wants to see improvements. She said prices rise, but services don’t. Bins are collected less often, streets are dirty and full of rubbish, and roads have potholes. She thinks fixing these should be a priority.

Iain Collins agreed about transparency and wondered what the council spends money on. He is surprised by low road repair budgets and thinks Edinburgh should fix roads. Iain said people struggle financially. He accepts the rise if the money is spent well, adding that people need to see results.

Christine McMillan also asks where the money goes, saying it doesn’t seem well managed to her. She says big bosses earn too much, and money should improve local services. Roads, libraries, and parks need funding, and she wants locals more involved in decisions.

Tanya Oliver supports the tax increase because services are declining. She said things cost money, so taxes must rise, noting taxes stayed low for a while. She wants the money to support the local community. She concludes, “You can’t complain without paying.”

Lorraine Still finds tax hikes worrying, saying people struggle, and this will worsen things. They already lost the winter fuel allowance, and she wonders where the money goes. She noted Aberdeenshire cuts services for elderly and disabled and yet, they raise taxes. Care for these groups should be a priority.

Cherie Jardine says the tax band system is bad and that she pays more than neighbors. She tried to challenge it but failed. The system is outdated, she said, and now tax is rising even more. People pay a lot, but see little in return.

John Kerr thinks this is another public tax that takes money from hard-working Scots. People already struggle to make ends meet and raising taxes is ridiculous, he stated.

Edinburgh’s Band A taxpayers will pay £77.21 more each year, while Band H taxpayers will pay £283.75 extra. Glasgow’s Band A council tax rises by £74.95, and Band H tax increases by £275.44 there. More councils will announce rates soon.