'We're being headlocked into this...' Council boss warns as locals face 5 per cent council tax hike
manchestereveningnews.co.ukPeople in Wigan are facing a near five per cent increase in their council tax - with leaders claiming they've been 'headlocked' into imposing the rise by the government.
The town will get around £25million from Westminster in its finance settlement to help support a 7.5pc hike in its core spending power for 2024/25 to £271m.
But ahead of tomorrow’s (March 6) budget, council meeting council leader Coun David Molyneux said that central Government has forced Wigan along with many other councils across the country into raising their council tax by the maximum allowed without a local referendum. READ NEXT: How one 'faulty valve' sparked a major incident in Trafford Without the council tax increase, Wigan would have been facing a £10m hole in its finances.
With it, that deficit comes down to £2.5m with that cash already saved because of ‘efficiencies’ targeted a year ago. Wigan will raise some £145m of the money it needs to run its services for the year ahead in council tax and - unlike other authorities - the town gets to keep all of its projected £126m in business rates.
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