Aberdeenshire Council leader slams council tax proposals
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The leader of Aberdeenshire Council has slammed “outrageous” Scottish Government plans to impose council tax hikes of up to 22.5 per cent on homeowners in Scotland.
Councillor Gillian Owen said she was incredulous at the proposals which aim to target eye-watering increases on a quarter of the population – and more than 50,000 houses in Aberdeenshire alone.
Families in the highest council tax bands could be hit with huge rises – under the proposals band E households would rise by 7.5 per cent, those in band F would pay an extra 12.5 per cent, band G homes would see an extra 17.5 per cent on top of their bills and those in bracket H would see a whopping increase of 22.5 per cent.
Councillor Owen, the Leader of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist group in Aberdeenshire, said she was digusted at the plans.
She said: “At a time when all people are feeling the pinch with the cost of living crisis, this level of increase is both ludicrous and unacceptable and shows how the SNP is intent on crushing anyone who has worked hard to build a life for themselves.
“They won’t be happy until they have forced the last wealth creator from this country – and it dumps the failures of the SNP’s last decade in power on council tax payers to pay for their mess.”
Councillor Owen, ward councillor for the Ellon and District Ward, said many homeowners would not be aware of the proposals – and urged them to make their voices heard before the consultation closes on September 20.
She added: “It’s typical of the SNP: they make councils look like the ones hitting our friends and neighbours with bigger taxes while they continue to waste our money on ill-conceived and ludicrous policies and their never-ending obsession with independence.
"And yet they still won’t fairly fund the north-east of Scotland.
“Let me be clear about this: this is greedy ministers wanting to squeeze the pips on those who have worked hard for their homes. It stinks.”
The Scottish Government's Public Finance Minister Tom Arthur said: “We have listened to calls for the council tax system to be made fairer, as presently more of the burden falls on those in the lower bands when considered as a proportion of the value of their property.
“The changes would only affect around a quarter of properties and even after they are taken into account, average council tax in Scotland would still be less than anywhere else in the UK.
“We know that many people are struggling with their finances and our Council Tax Reduction Scheme is there to ensure nobody has to pay a council tax bill they cannot be expected to afford, regardless of what band they are in.
“I would encourage anyone who has views on these proposals to complete our consultation before it closes on September 20, to help us determine if they should be taken forward.”
