Bigger portion of council tax to fund policing and fire service in the next financial year

The amount of council tax to be invested in policing and the fire service in the next financial year will increase, it has been agreed.
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The Police, Fire and Crime Panel has decided to go ahead with North Yorkshire’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan's proposals to raise the policing and fire service precept, the amount of money residents will pay for policing and fire and rescue services in the year from April 2020.

As a result, the policing precept has now risen by 3.91 per cent, the equivalent of an additional 19p per week on residents’ council tax (band D), while the fire precept has gone up by 1.99 per cent, the equivalent of 3p per week.

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Despite acknowledging that asking taxpayers for more money "is never easy," the Commissioner said doing so would "make people safer and feel safer".

North Yorkshires Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan.North Yorkshires Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan.
North Yorkshires Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan.

Mrs Mulligan said: “I am pleased that the precept for the next year has been agreed and we have certainty on the funding available for North Yorkshire Police and North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.

“Asking hardworking taxpayers to pay more is never easy. It should only happen if it will make people safer and feel safer. I am confident this money will by providing the resources and training needed for our emergency services to be the best they can, and protect us all as much as possible.

“Thank you to the Police, Fire and Crime Panel for understanding the reality we face, scrutinising to ensure there is value for money and agreeing to my plans.

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“Thank you to the Chief Constable, Chief Fire Officer and their outstanding teams who go the extra mile day-in, day-out.

“And, most importantly, thank you to North Yorkshire and York residents for investing in keeping our county the safest place in the country.

“North Yorkshire, like all rural areas, deserves a better deal from the government. At the moment, the money we get from Westminster does not reflect the challenges we face. It’s time that changed and time we got a fair deal. We’re doing our bit here, it’s time for Ministers in London to do theirs.”