Council tax payers in Lincolnshire will be hit by another rise this year in a bid to make up a £12m road repair shortfall.
Lincolnshire County Council is raising its share of the tax – by far the largest part – by 4.99 per cent as it tries to claw back money to fix the crumbling roads.
It had hoped the extra money needed would come directly from central Government but made the 11th hour change to the county’s bills as more Whitehall cash became unlikely.
“We know road repairs are a priority for residents and have always done our best to protect the highways maintenance budget from cuts. However, despite lobbying from both the council and Lincolnshire’s MPs, it looks like the government will not be reinstating the £12m cut from our highways grant last year,” said council leader Martin Hill.
The updated budget is due to be ratified by the full council on Friday (February 18) and means the county’s portion of the bill for a Band D property is £1,432.17.
“We are disappointed that local taxpayers are again being left to foot the bill, especially with the government raises billions each year through fuel duty and road tax,” said Coun Hill.
According to the council there are 660 miles of ‘crumbling roads classed as being in poor or very poor condition.’
The council is using its ability to instigate a rise in tax it had deferred last year.
It had been able to add up to three per cent for adult social care, but didn’t do so and is now applying it this year on top of a 1.99 per cent in general Council Tax.
The increase will generate an additional income to the authority of £15.901m for the coming financial year.
A full report due to go to the council says all areas of spending levels and income had been considered and reviewed ahead of changing the precept.
“All savings identified for 2022/23 are considered to have minimal impact on users of our services,” it says.
Lincolnshire County Council will have a total income of £544.571m for the next financial year, with the majority coming from Council Tax precepts.
The final bills, which are due to arrive in March, will also include precepts from the local district council, police and parish councils to make up the final amount.
