HAMPSHIRE County Council is preparing to hike its council tax share as it tries to plug a £132m budget black hole. Executive members of the authority will review – and are likely to approve – the proposed increase at a meeting on 6th February. The full council will then set the overall budget, including any precept increase, at a meeting on 22nd February. Hampshire County Council officesThe council said increasing its council’s tax share by 4.99% would help the authority to provide £2.6 billion of services to the county’s 1.4 million residents. “From 1st April, a council tax increase of 4.99% is being put forward, of which 2% would go specifically towards adult social care and supporting the county’s higher numbers of older people and adults with complex needs and disabilities.

Source: The Times February 05, 2024 03:32 UTC