Knutsfordians will be paying more for their Council Tax from April 2019.
The rise is to cover town council services including maintenance works, taking over the town cemetery and balancing the books of the council.
Council tax rises for Knutsford residents
By Lucy Thorpe on February 11, 2019
On average, a Band D property will pay £7.15 more in 2019/20 than in the previous year.
The council’s proposed expenditure is £585,256 for the same period..
Town clerk Adam Keppel-Green said: “An increased programme of work is required over the next five years, which means that the rent we gain from the building cannot be used to reduce the precept as it has for the past few years. This has the net effect of requiring us to raise an additional £21,500 from the precept – £3.71 on a Band D property, or 7p per week.”
In regards to the council taking back the running of Knutsford Cemetery, Adam said: “The business case for this will see the cemetery generate a net surplus for the council year-on-year, but there is £7,500 of set-up costs in the next year, which equates to £1.29 on a Band D property, or 2p per week. To reduce the precept in 2018, the council removed £9,000 from reserves. Our reserves are now at a level where it would not be good financial management to reduce them further. As we cannot remove a further £9,000 from reserves, this must come from the precept to balance our budget. This equates to £1.55 on a Band D property, or 3p per week.”
He added:“We look to spend our funds in the most efficient way possible and generate income where there is opportunity, such as through sponsorship.”
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