Newport residents may see a significant rise in council tax, with a proposed increase of 6.7 percent starting in April
Newport: Looks like residents are in for a bit of a shock. The city council is planning a 6.7 percent hike in council tax starting in April. That’s about a £100 bump for those in Band D properties.
The council says they’re dealing with some tough budget issues, especially after everything that’s happened in recent years. They’re staring down a budget gap of around £4.3 million for the upcoming financial year.
To make matters worse, the draft budget suggests cuts to libraries and community centers, plus some changes at care homes. They’re also looking at raising fees for certain council services.
On the bright side, Newport is set to get the biggest boost in funding from the Welsh Government this year. But even with that, it seems residents will still have to dig a little deeper into their pockets for council tax.
The council insists that even with the increase, their rates will still be lower than most neighboring areas and among the lowest in Wales. Most properties in Newport fall into the three lowest tax bands, which is a small relief.
Here’s a quick breakdown of what the new rates would look like for each band: Band A will see a £1.29 weekly increase, while Band D will go up by £1.93. The increases vary across the bands, with Band H seeing the highest jump at £3.86 weekly.
Before anything is set in stone, the council will open up the budget proposals for public consultation. After that, it’ll be debated by councillors before they finalize the budget plan.
