Revealed: Labour’s Tax Bombshell set to hit worst off most

At the Budget Council meeting last week, the Labour administration pushed through their budget which contained a 4.99% Council Tax increase and a £46.50 charge on green waste collection.

A new investigation has revealed that the cumulative effects of these changes would hit the least well-off families in York the hardest.

Those that live in the area’s Band A properties will see an effective 9.43% increase in their Council Tax whereas those in York’s most expensive properties will only be expected to pay an extra 6.47% in total.

Councillor Andrew Waller, Liberal Democrat Councillor for Westfield said:

“The cumulative effects of this Labour administration’s budget are to hit those on low incomes with the largest increase in their tax bill.

“At the election, Labour promised voters a freeze on their Council Tax and yet they are now asking York’s least well-off households to pay nearly 10% more this year! In Westfield this will be particularly damaging as 71% of homes in the ward are Band A or Band B properties.

"It’s clear that Labour have lost their way with this budget and need to reevaluate their priorities. As a Council, we should not be in a position where we are asking those most affected with the cost-of-living crisis to bear the brunt of Labour’s austerity programme.

“The Government gave the Council an extra £1.5 million for Adult Social Care so that we did not have to make the very worst of cuts this year. Liberal Democrats would have stopped the regressive Green Bin Tax.”