It reads to me as if the 2% increase isn't going to be enough and we will have to dig deeper to pay the 3.99% do others read it the same?
Further plans to balance the books will also be considered by Full Council including setting the authority's annual budget for 2016/17 at £483 million and generating £10.6 million to help deal with the shortfall by asking residents to pay an extra 3.99% in council tax.
This year councils with responsibility for providing adult care services were for the first time given Government permission to raise council tax by up to 2% in addition to the maximum 2% ordinarily permitted.
A 3.99% increase in council tax would mean an increase of £34.77 a year − or 67p a week − for a Band B property. Most homes in Derbyshire are Band A or B.
In Derbyshire the extra 2% for adult care would raise £5m a year but this would only partially protect services as the council is facing a £13m adult care cut this year.
The council is considering the 2% charge specifically to help pay for the following adult social care-related services:
Voluntary and community groups that provide the most benefit in helping older and vulnerable people to live safely and well in their own homes without relying on social care services
Protecting the council's home care service which provides support to people at home so they can stay living independently for as long as possible. This service can help to reduce or prevent hospital admissions and also speed up hospital discharges
Services that support people with dementia and their carers
More use of assistive technology and specialist equipment, for example pressure pads and alarms
Support services for younger adults with mental health issues and learning disabilities to help them live independently, prepare for independent living or a move to supported accommodation and help them learn new skills including support into employment where appropriate.
In November last year the county council asked residents whether they thought council tax should increase to help deal with the cuts. 852 people responded and 46% said council tax should increase by 4% or more.
Councillor Western said:
"We'd prefer not to raise council tax but we feel we have no choice other than to consider it because the funding we get from Government is being rapidly cut and the Government has made it clear that raising council tax is what it expects us to do.
"Whilst the extra 2% for social care services would help to protect some services for elderly and vulnerable people, it would bring in much less than half the amount we would need to stop any cuts to adult social services this year."
Topic: Will our council Tax go up by 3.99% this year? (Read 1129 times)