D&G Council Agree on Council Tax Increase Of 4.84% [3% + inflation].

Dumfries and Galloway Council met today to consider budget proposals and set the associated council tax level for financial year 2020/21.

Under the Local Government [Scotland] Act 1973 and the Local Government Finance Act 1992, a local authority must set its council tax before 11 March in the preceding financial year. A council is required to set council tax based on an overall balanced budget for the financial year.

The Council agreed to increase council tax by 4.84% [3% + inflation].

Council Leader Elaine Murray said: “Today, we found ourselves in unusual circumstances with an indicative Scottish budget for 2020/21 but without knowing what our revenue and capital allocations from the Scottish Government will be. Cuts and savings agreed earlier in the current financial year, mean that we face a funding gap of around £5.2m. We are, however, expecting our revenue funding from the Scottish Government to increase by around £2.8m. We’ll set our full budget next month and I am proud to say that our administration won’t be cutting the education budget or increasing the pupil:teacher ratio; won’t be making cuts to the financial inclusion team; and won’t be cutting the roads and winter maintenance budgets.”

Depute Leader Rob Davidson said: “Today, we were arguably in a better position than we have been for many years, in which we had to deliver a total of £106m in savings. I very much welcome our council agreeing to increase council tax to enable us to preserve vital council services. I’m now looking forward to presenting our full budget in March, which will protect education, financial inclusion, and significant investment in our roads.”