YOUR Citizen Smith editorial last week accused Labour of spinning a 'mega-increase' to later reduce the tax to a nine per cent rise and blame the MBI.
Your admitted cynicism is misplaced. The budget is done with three-year projections and on February 26 last year the council passed a budget for 2003/2004 of £18.969 million and an estimate for 2004/2005 of £20.645 millions.
The first task of the new Labour led coalition after the election was to reduce the unsustainable spending commitment of £20.645 millions. Through hard work and co-operation of the Labour, Liberals and Green administration, the budget has been reduced to £18.845 and the projections for later years have correspondingly been reduced.
You will also be aware of the gearing effect of council tax, so that a nine per cent rise is a three per cent rise in spending.
Because the council tax is a regressive tax hitting low income earners disproportionately, your message, like ours, must be that local taxation needs reform.
Finally I think you should give credit to the Labour, Liberal and Green coalition who have a common set of priorities and who collectively worked to resolve the budget difficulties.
Cllr Joe Ravetz, John O'Gaunt Ward.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article