Locals decry the 7.5% council tax rise, one of the biggest in 20 years, calling it unsustainable amid cost of living concerns.
Ricky Bell said people must “contribute a bit more.” He says the money will aid the city, meaning investment in teachers, parks and cleaning. Many residents are quite upset, with some describing the increase as “disgusting.” People online are asking where their money goes.
Earlier education cuts are gone, preventing job losses. But £25 million in cuts remain from agreements last year. Another £1.05 million in savings got approved.
There will be new cleaning jobs with two hundred twelve workers hired. One hundred new parking attendants are coming too, which they say will boost enforcement efforts. Five Glasgow Club pools will have longer hours; these pools are in Pollok, Castlemilk, and Easterhouse, as well Drumchapel and North Woodside.
Bell stated the budget sets aside £2 million, which will help borrow more funding. They plan to invest £38.5 million total. Twenty million goes to roads and cycleways. Ten million goes to empty properties to bring land back into use, potentially including buying the Egyptian Halls. Three million goes to parks. One million is for quick city repairs and to help fix Cardonald Library which has dangerous concrete inside.
Many locals shared their thoughts online. One person said the tax is unsustainable. Someone else called the city an “absolute disgrace,” and another person mentioned brown bin fees.
Kelly Nikky said the tax will hurt low earners since families already struggle with the cost of living. A rise in employer’s national insurance matters, but the UK government isn’t funding it all. This takes £10 million from the budget. Bell said they must fund priorities and asks people to pay a “bit more.”
Here are the Glasgow council tax bands (with water). Band A will pay £1,474.26; Band B pays £1,719.97; Band C pays £1,965.68; Band D pays £2,211.39; Band E pays £2,850.49; Band F pays £3,485.11; Band G pays £4,155.53; and Band H will pay £5,147.73.