8.4% - THE AVERAGE COUNCIL TAX INCREASE UNDER SURREY HEATH CONSERVATIVES!

10.10.00am GMT Wed 14th Mar 2007

Normal Service from Surrey Heath Tories!

Over the past eight years Surrey Heath Council has increased its element of the Council Tax by an average of 8.4% - AND it would probably have been far higher if the Government had not threatened to cap Councils levying increases of more than 5% over the past three years.

The worst years were 2002 to 2004 where the average increase for the two years was a staggering 16.5%!

Cynically, the Conservatives have increased Council Tax this year by 2.4% but do not be fooled by this - IT IS AN ELECTION YEAR, OF COURSE!

• In contrast to the spendthrift Tories, a Liberal Democrat Council will pledge to keep Council Tax increases below the Surrey average for the life time of the next council. Our goal after two years of office will be to restrict Council tax increases to the rate of inflation (RPI.)

• We will fund all our new policy initiatives through reducing the net cost of operating current services and reprioritising resources