Scottish Government council tax proposals under fire
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
North East Scotland MSP Liam Kerr has slammed the Scottish Government for proposing council tax increases of up to 22.5 per cent which would impact around 52,000 households in Aberdeenshire.
The north-east MSP’s criticism comes after Holyrood opened a consultation proposing council tax rises of between 7.5 per cent and 22.5 per cent for those living in properties in bands E to H.
Aberdeenshire residents in band E would suffer 7.5 per cent rises, those in band F properties would be hit by 12.5 per cent, band G residents would see bills rise by 17.5 per cent and those in band H would see the biggest rises at 22.5 per cent.
Research by the Scottish Conservatives has shown that 22,643 households in band E across Aberdeenshire would pay £137 more.
More than 17,500 band F properties would be impacted in Aberdeenshire resulting in a £283 increase.
In band G, more than 11,000 households would be affected by a £477 rise while 631 properties in band H would be hit with a £768 rise per year.
Mr Kerr said the hikes will “terrify” residents across Aberdeenshire who are already grappling with a cost of living crisis.
The MSP said: “These bombshell council tax rises being proposed by the SNP Government will terrify Aberdeenshire residents.
“Many of them are already grappling with the cost of living crisis, so increases of this scale would be a hammer blow to their personal and household finances.
“People across Aberdeenshire should not be bearing the brunt of the SNP failing to give the council the resources they have needed year after year.
“Typically, SNP-Green ministers are once again passing the buck to councils such as Aberdeenshire to make impossible decisions.
On this occasion, it looks as though residents are set to pay the price with a huge hike in their council tax bills.
“I know how worried people across the north-east are by these proposals and I’d urge everyone to make SNP-Green ministers aware of their concerns through their consultation.”
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.”
