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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to tell you that tax bills are going to go up next year...and it's probably a good thing

61 replies

chomalungma · 21/12/2019 10:31

Councils are allowed to add an extra 2% on top of the usual rise as long as it goes towards social care.

We need social care funding. An ageing population, more care needs - invest more in social care and it reduces the need for the NHS to get involved.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7815919/Council-tax-bills-set-rise-average-70-year-4-rise-double-inflation-rate.html

"Families were hit with a pre-Christmas bombshell last night after it emerged that average council tax bills could soar by £70 next year.

Ministers revealed they would give town halls the power to put up the levy by 2 per cent in April. On top of this, they will be able to add a further 2 per cent to pay for social care.

This combined 4 per cent increase could result in the average Band D council tax bill going up from £1,750 in 2019/20 to £1,820 next year. Those in more expensive Band H homes could see their bill rising by £140."

OP posts:
MyNameIsMrsGrumpy · 21/12/2019 12:41

Yay can’t wait

I doubt it will be actually ring fenced and misspent by our local authority 🤷‍♀️

I honestly wouldn’t mind paying more tax if I actually benefitted from it and we had a better system and services actually improved. However I’m sure it will just be pissed up the wall as per normal.

Also wouldn’t mind if I actually got a pay rise...just like the MP’s did however I will see fat flying pigs first!!

Stripyhoglets1 · 21/12/2019 12:49

Council tax has to go up to fund it as the government aren't funding councils properly any more and adult social care is a massive chunk of the budget. I think people need to realise that under the Tories you will have to pay directly for things the public sector used to provide, and/or do care for family yourself and you will be paying more tax for the meagre support that is still provided.

doritosdip · 21/12/2019 12:54

It's good if it's ring fenced but what about other services like the police and fire service?

Barnseyboyo · 21/12/2019 12:57

You can’t complain about services being cut then moan when they raise taxes to pay for it

Barnseyboyo · 21/12/2019 12:57

Also they’d have went up far more under labour to pay for all the nationalisation and freebies they were offering

scaryteacher · 21/12/2019 13:02

If it went into convalescent homes, that would be good, as a mid point between staying in hospital and having to cope at home. I had to try to find short term care for my ils when they both had operations at the same time. We ended up putting fil in a residential home whilst he got better...not ideal.

Original poster
chomalungma · 21/12/2019 13:05

If it went into convalescent homes, that would be good, as a mid point between staying in hospital and having to cope at home

That's a good idea. I am surprised such places don't exist. Too many people are discharged to an unsuitable home with little support and then return later.

OP posts:
TheCoolerQueen · 21/12/2019 13:11

I have personal experience of local Adult Social Care as I'm currently looking after my dad who has advanced dementia.

The "care" and help we have received has been non-existent. The Social Workers involved have lied through their back teeth to cover up their own errors.

The local authority could save themselves a whole heap of money by sacking half their staff. They are a bunch of box-tickers, nothing more.

FoamingAtTheUterus · 21/12/2019 13:16

Hang on, ours have gone up and up. It's just gone up again by £7 a month because despite being one of the most deprived areas in the country we seem to pay a much higher council tax rate. (( 1300 a year for band A going up to just under £4000 a year. ))

I've no issue as such so long as this increase is used in the way it's meant to be used. And from what I've seen from our last increases when services have been slashed even more that just isn't happening.

ColleysMill · 21/12/2019 13:17

@LakieLady I totally accept all local gov services/departments are struggling but in terms of social care you see lots of discussion around our aging population but very little around the younger generations - granted probably smaller numbers but potentially with quite complex care needs. Some of this will be social funding and some health funding and they argue about it between themselves before coming up with packages.

Its like a domino effect isnt it - everything impacts on everything else eventually, one cut in one department can affect many other services

Lockshunkugel · 21/12/2019 13:19

YANBU

It’s absolutely right that we all pay a bit more to go towards social care.

FoamingAtTheUterus · 21/12/2019 13:20

I've just checked, these are the rates for ours. With extra charges being added for those who have parish councils.

Band A - £1251.58;

Band B - £1460.18;

Band C - £1668.77;

Band D - £1877.37;

Band E - £2294.56;

Band F - £2711.76;

Band G - £3128.95;

Band H - £3754.74.

Yet another rise just isn't fair when we've just had such a large one. And social care in our area is being slashed and.cut down to the bone. I can't see that changing tbh.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 21/12/2019 13:24

It's about time council taxes went up - as long as it gets spent in the right place. We can't have services and not pay for them.

Racoonworld · 21/12/2019 13:29

I think it's a good thing, if we want better services we all need to pay more tax. I'm happy to pay a bit more to improve social care. It really annoys me when people aren't prepared to pay any more but then moan about public services being rubbish.

2ndtimer30 · 21/12/2019 13:52

I'm happy with the increase if it's going on social care.

dangerrabbit · 21/12/2019 13:53

I don’t have a problem with that as I voted labour but quite surprised a Tory government would bring that in.

Merryoldgoat · 21/12/2019 13:58

I don’t have a problem because I can afford it. There are plenty for whom this rise could be unaffordable.

Higher earners (I include myself and my husband) should be taxed more. This increase is regressive.

FlamingoAndJohn · 21/12/2019 13:59

I voted labour and so I’m fine with taxes going up.
It’s a shame that this is a tax which will hit everyone not just those who can easily afford it.

NameChangeNugget · 21/12/2019 14:18

In total agreement with this, though it’s not new.

scaryteacher · 21/12/2019 15:11

OP Convalescent Homes used to exist, as did Cottage Hospitals and Maternity Homes. I think these were changed for changes sake, as the system did actually work. My Nan was in a convalescent home after being knocked off her bike. Not bad enough to stay in hospital, but not well enough to go home alone. She stayed there til we could get to her. This was back in the 70s, so not so easy to get to her quickly as she was in Cambridge and we were in Hampshire and Dad was at sea.

BrightYellowDaffodil · 21/12/2019 15:19

It will be just over £5 for me - I’m quite happy to pay it.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 21/12/2019 15:29

I'm Band A and get single person discount so I won't notice it. I am happy to pay it but it's not great for people who are living in poverty though.

transformandriseup · 21/12/2019 15:30

Mine has gone up by £10 a month for the last few years, I don't mind paying it but my salary never seems to increase to cover it.

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 21/12/2019 15:31

I thought there was already a 2% precept. Is this another 2%.

DustyMaiden · 21/12/2019 15:33

Our council seem to have plenty of money they spend it planting flowers on roundabouts and hanging baskets.

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