Lincolnshire’s police commissioner dismisses a public vote on council tax increase due to a £14m budget shortfall affecting jobs.
Lincolnshire: The police commissioner has decided against a public vote on raising council tax. This comes as the police force faces a £14 million budget shortfall. If nothing changes, over 400 jobs could be cut.
Commissioner Marc Jones asked the government for permission to raise taxes without a vote. However, the policing minister, Yvette Cooper, said no. Jones believes a vote would waste resources and create uncertainty.
Currently, households may see a 4.59% increase in council tax. This means an extra £13.95 a year for Band D homes, or about 27p a week. The police force needs this increase to help with its financial issues.
The Police and Crime Panel will discuss the proposed tax increase next week. They will decide whether to accept it. Jones has noted that many local residents support increased funding for the police.
He is open to raising the council tax by more than £14 but wants to avoid a costly referendum. He believes it’s not a good use of resources, especially when quick action is needed.
The police commissioner and chief constable are in talks with the Home Office for more funding. The proposed increase would mean an extra £9.30 for Band A homes, bringing the total to £212.
For Band B, the increase would be £10.85, totaling £247. Band C would see a £12.40 rise, making it £282 for the year. New recruits expecting to start in March had their job offers canceled to save money.
To meet budget needs, police officer numbers may drop from 1,200 to 1,000 by 2028/29. This could worsen if additional funding isn’t secured.
