Ridiculous increase in council tax for police funding

[NigelGresley]

Last year the increase on our council tax bill for the police was 12%, this year it has increased by 22% !!!

I am furious with the government for cutting central funding and transferring the burden to local people. But at the same time wondering whether our police force is really cutting its cloth accordingly.

Anyone else seen such huge increases?
How much longer can this continue? Some people are really going to struggle to pay.

I think the council tax bands need to be addressed. I don't mind paying more for more police officers, but appreciate it's tough for some. A local income tax might be fairer.

i think a local income tax is the worst option. it penalises people who earn a lot but are asset poor.....so all those young professionals who are working their guts out but cant get on the property ladder would be screwed. whilst anyone who has coasted through life but managed to get a big house (maybe by way of inheritance ) is laughing

I don't think anyone is complaining about the principle of having to pay more to police the streets.
The issue is the doubt that the money will actually get where it needs to go and make a difference. Because if it doesn't they will simply keep putting CT up without dealing with the root cause.
We are cynical because whilst there is no money for the police there is money for councillor / MP pay rises.

It should be dealt with from central funds and an increase in tax so as not to disproportionately affect poorer people. But instead they have bled services dry and now are insisting it come from council tax and leading a campaign to say "it's the only way". It's not.

Brexit was beautifully done by some very rich and greedy men to lose the shackles of regulation and to make even more money. The people were well and truly duped and the Russians helped. The Tories will now be able to slash corporate taxes even further to keep businesses here and push the tax burden even further to the individuals. They will use the the smoke of battle from brexit to slash all manner of services/benefits. But I think they've overplayed their hand and the pushback will be greater than they anticipated.

I don’t have any objection to police funding being increased if that is what is really needed.
What I object to is the burden of this being passed to local councils rather than through central taxation.
It would have helped if the bill was presented with brief explanation or justification, but it’s almost as though they just hope you won’t notice.
You get 2 sides of A4 to explain why they need to charge for garden waste!

Why do people think taxing income is fairer? What about wealthy folk that inherit money and pass houses down and get "paid" via dividends and share options? What about people that own mutiple houses in offshore trusts, why dont you want them to be taxed for local services and pay their share?

Income can be hidden, homes can't. We disappropriately tax income in this country whilst genuinely wealthly people with loads of assets pay little tax. Property should be taxed by ownership. That's fairer.

Nigel So, asking again, how much is the increase financially for you? 22% sounds huge but if it actually works out at £2 per month or something, it's far less dramatic for your thread isn't it?

And I still think it bizarre you have an issue with this HUGE increase but want to introduce more taxation to help clean up dog shit.

Thanks @LoudBatPerson that's interesting.

So if everything is going up in price, but cuts are being made left right and centre, where's all the money going? The 1% are really creaming it off aren't they.

Absolutely support it - the crime rates have risen sharply around here , with the blending of forces with the neighbouring area and shutting of police stations being a mere coincidence 😒Wish our Council would cut their ‘we’re so great’ full colour newsletter that with no news of note, that is delivered to every household in the borough.

Fuzzy
I am frontline and almost 50. I can't retire til 60.
To get my pension I must pass the same yearly fitness test as my 19 year old male colleagues.
How is me policing the streets on my Zimmer frame helping?
My pension will be equivalent to a part time wage as I joined at 37.

There are NO office based jobs for police.

I think it's because the gen pop votes Tories who cut public services such as police. So folks end up coughing it up out of their council tax. But, for some, that's much better than that big anti-semite in the Labour party with all his nanny welfare state ...

hellen I did say that I knew things were changing, but we are all still paying for the pensions of those who were fortunate to have retired in their 40s. And I believe a large proportion of Police income is being used to fund pensions not frontline services.

After also working for my whole life (charity world) my pension is a lot less than that of a state pension, which is why I am disinclined to fork out for huge increases in other taxation.

I am fortunate enough to own my house, (It's not huge, it's not in the SE, it's not worth a fortune) but there is not point taxing me extra on that if I have no cash to pay it!

This is what happens when people vote for the Tories!

How much is 22% in real money?
How many cups of takeout coffee per week?

How many cups of takeout coffee per week?

I get your point, but there are many people who do not have and cannot afford any cups of takeaway coffee at all. And they are expected to pay the same increase as those for whom a cup of coffee is a twice daily necessity without any thought required!

And they are expected to pay the same increase as those for whom a cup of coffee is a twice daily necessity without any thought required!
No they are not
because its all linked to the band of house

Our increase is 5% overall, which equates to £62~ a year. We’re band A though so overall it’s £1299 a year.

And they are expected to pay the same increase as those for whom a cup of coffee is a twice daily necessity without any thought required!
No they are not because its all linked to the band of house

Well yes, but a house doesn't mean you have a load of disposable or index linked income.

Why do people think taxing income is fairer?

One reason is that there is such huge disparity across the country with the council tax bands. Some of the most expensive council taxes are in the poorest areas.

So, asking again, how much is the increase financially for you? 22% sounds huge but if it actually works out at £2 per month or something, it's far less dramatic for your thread isn't it?

You seem to have assumed it’s all about me. I can afford it, but that is not the point.
Our bill is about £150 more than last year overall with the increases in other areas.
This is without a doubt the biggest single increase I’ve ever seen on council tax, you don’t expect it.

This is what happens when people vote for the Tories!
Or it’s what happens when labour get us into loads of debt that has to be repaid.

Some of the most expensive council taxes are in the poorest areas.
Because poor areas have fewer high band properties
and less business rates
so a narrower tax base

a Land Value Tax would be a major leap in the right direction
but there is no political will as the Tories would pay most of it.

I don't mind paying 8% of my income on council tax but I would love for higher income people to do the same.

Who is it about then? Why are you so reticent?

Your overall council tax bill has gone up by 22% for a total of £150 per year or £12.50 per month.

Your Police portion has gone up by 12% over last year. What part of that £12.50 is going in extra funding to the Police?

I don't mind paying 8% of my income on council tax but I would love for higher income people to do the same.
Which is interesting because 50% of adults pay no income tax.
The vast, vast bulk of income tax is paid by the highest earners.