Tax hike of 15.6% approved. Ninety-two jobs will still be cut. Budget gap remains despite increased revenue.
A Band D home will pay £1576.77 yearly, equaling about £4.08 each week. The tax boost won’t fully close the budget gap, which sits around £33.5 million for the coming year. The council needs to cut costs and staff. Ninety-two full-time jobs may disappear. These changes are operational, not frontline, and councillors aren’t directly involved with the decisions.
A hiring freeze has happened for over a year, with only very important jobs getting filled. The budget also needs £11 million from service changes. Reserve funds get used now, but they will run out soon.
An independent councillor made the budget plan. She knew it probably wouldn’t pass. Why did councillors approve such a big tax increase? Councillor Laura Murtagh felt “physically sick” about the decision. She could not support cuts made without asking anyone and opposed cuts to nurseries and autism support.
Murtagh said the cuts risked legal issues. The council CEO admitted a lack of engagement but believed they had enough information to decide. Rejecting other cuts meant quick savings were necessary.
Nursery owners said cuts would close their businesses. Labour decided consultation was needed first and agreed to Murtagh’s tax rise plan. She rejected brown bin and crematorium fee hikes. Labour also got funding for transport and school safety. Part of the tax rise funds roads and school upgrades. These include bridge work, Wi-Fi, and flood protection. All education cuts got rejected, except music tuition fees. Low-income families won’t pay these fees. Parking fees will increase by ten percent.
A big tax rise was coming no matter what. Conservatives wanted a ten percent increase. The SNP wanted 13.7 percent more. Labour preferred a 15.2 percent increase. Labour’s Anne Hannah seconded the final 15.6% plan. She called it the “least bad option” because of underfunding.
The SNP criticized the tax increase deal. Councillor Cecil Meiklejohn called it “reckless” and said it burdened already struggling families. The Conservatives called it a “political shambles.” They said the SNP could not govern and added Labour would hammer hardworking families.