PROPOSALS which could have seen council tax rise locally by up to 22 per cent were thrown out this week.
Members of the council’s finance committee on Tuesday voted against SNP/Green Government proposals that mooted hikes of between 7.5 per cent and 22.5 per cent for bands E to H households in Dumfries and Galloway.
It would have affected 18,500 properties locally and meant those in Band E seeing an automatic increase of £131.16 to their council tax every year, while for those on Band H the increase would be £735.84.
Councillors also raised concerns raised that the additional funding raised through such a rise could have a knock-on impact on their financial position, given that the local authority settlement has not been agreed for the next or future financial years.
Annandale North Cllr Carolyne Wilson proposed the motion which saw the proposals quashed.
She said: “These proposed Council Tax hikes from the SNP/Green Scottish Government are nothing more than a sticking plaster after over a decade of their cuts to schools, social care and roads.
“The Council Tax is a regressive form of taxation which has been subject to widespread criticism. The multiplier measures being proposed do nothing to address the requirement for a more progressive form of taxation.
“I am pleased that councillors have agreed with the Labour Party that we should not be supporting a council tax hike like this during a cost-of-living crisis.”
The Conservative Administration voted with the Labour Group on the matter and, as a result, Dumfries and Galloway Council agreed to officially oppose the Government proposal
