Surrey's Tory Councillors plan Council Tax bombshell for residents
Liberal Democrat county councillors in Surrey have expressed their dismay at Conservative plans to hike council tax by a massive 16% in the county. According to a report in the well respected Municipal Journal magazine, which covers local government issues, the county council is seriously considering a proposal to hold a county-wide referendum with the intention of raising council tax by 16%. Under the current rules, the county council can only raise the tax by an extra 4.99% a year, 3% of which is ring-fenced for adult social care, and must hold a referendum if it wishes to raise a larger amount. Cllr Hazel Watson, Leader of the Liberal Democrat councillors on Surrey County Council, said today: "Liberal Democrat councillors on Surrey County Council oppose a proposal to increase the council tax above the threshold to trigger a referendum of Surrey residents. Firstly, there is a national crisis in the funding of adult social care, which needs a long-term solution from the government not a temporary stickin