Authority's two tax increases

Council taxpayers in Powys are facing an inflation-busting 3.95 per cent increase. County Council members meet tomorrow to discuss the tax for the coming financial year.

Board members have recommended a 3.95 per cent rise. But this year, for the first time, councillors are being offered a choice.

As well as the board's recommendation, the Mont-gomeryshire Independent Group has recommended a rise of just 3.5 per cent.

The board's increase would mean a £31.23 rise per month in the average Band D council tax bill, to £800.18.

This would give the council a total budget of £214,730 for 2007/8.

This would rely on efficiency savings of £5.168 million, a £250,000 cut in school budgets due to falling numbers of pupils, and on schools meeting an increase in teachers' superannuation costs from their existing budgets, which would place them under an extra £350,000 burden.

The alternative option would increase council tax by just 3.5 per cent.

This would be in line with the Welsh Assembly's increase in grant funding, but reduce the amount of cash available by £195,000.

The Independent group said it had identified extra savings worth £268,000, meaning £120,000 could be put back into services, including manned public toilets, which were due for a £100,000 cut, and £20,000 of community grants.

Civic allowances and catering budgets would be cut by £13,700 and the balance would be found by using Job Evaluation growth funding of £33,300.

The council is due to discuss tax rises tomorrow at 10.30am at Powys County Hall, Llandrindod Wells.