Council tax in Sefton will rise by the maximum 4.99% following the approval of the Council’s budget for 2021/22.
The rise will take effect from next month. The budget means anyone living in a Band C property will pay £86.25 more per year.
Council leader Ian Maher said: “As a result of Covid, this is the most technical budget the council has set.
“We’ve always managed our budget to the highest standard despite having to make over £233m of savings over the last 10 years so that we’re able to continue delivering services that are most needed within our communities, and pre-pandemic the Council was in a robust financial position and had delivered a balanced budget.
“The Government will have you believe that they are making £1 billion of funding available for local authorities for social care. What they won’t tell you is that £700 million of that comes from allowing councils to increase council tax.
Click here to read Council leader Ian Maher’s open letter in full
Damien Moore said: “Labour just voted to increase Council Tax on Southport residents by 4.99% in their annual budget meeting.
“It takes council tax past £2,000 for the first time in our town’s history.
“In the same meeting, Labour accepted that the Strand Shopping Centre is losing millions of pounds in value and revenue.
“Labour are using Southport residents as a cash cow to pay for their projects in Bootle – and only a day after we secured the largest direct investment our town has seen in a generation.
“Even the Liberal Democrats voted against it.”
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