North Yorkshire residents urged again to have say on council tax as "tough choices" await

Residents still have time to make their voices heard.

They are encouraged to take part in the county council’s consultation to have a say on its budget, ambitions and priorities.

Cllr Gareth Dadd, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Finance, said: “These continue to be turbulent times.

"We are responding to increased pressures that the pandemic has placed on our communities and the county’s economy.

"At the same time, long-term challenges grow, for example the massive pressures in social care.

"This means we face further tough choices as we budget for the future.”

The county council has been consulting the public about its budget, including council tax for next year.

The consultation closes on Monday January 17 so residents who have not yet taken part are urged to have their say now.

Under Government rules, the authority can raise council tax by up to 1.99% from April, plus up to a further 2.49% for the adult social care precept.

County Council leader Cllr Carl Les said: “Increasing council tax is never an easy option for us.

"We have always striven to be moderate in our increases.

"When considering the level of council tax, we need to understand and balance the hardship families face and the pressure a council tax rise might add with the need to fund essential services to support the most vulnerable in our communities and the services our communities and residents want to see delivered, none of which are without a cost.

“We want to be able to make such decisions backed by an understanding of how residents view our ambitions and spending priorities, as well as the level of council tax.

"For that reason, I urge people to complete our consultation survey now.”

Visit www.northyorks.gov.uk/yourservicesyoursay to give your views.

Budget proposals are expected to be considered by the council’s Executive on January 25 and by the full council in February.