Mr AJ Parkin's letter 'Taxed to the hilt' (Letters, April 6) certainly rings true to me.
Some 20 years ago, my family settled in Thorganby and paid 'rates' of some £170 per year inclusive of water and sewage. This year, my council tax demand for a similar value property in the same village is £1,400 plus a separate water and sewage charge to Yorkshire Water of £450.
This is an increase of more than 1000 per cent (ten times). On retiring earlier this year, my income had increased by some 2.5 times over the same 20-year period.
However, having become a pensioner the comparison gets even sillier. About half of the state pension will be taken back in council tax and water/sewage charges. Even if one accepts that councils need all the money, which I doubt, there must be a fairer way of raising it. A local income tax possibly?
The leaflet from North Yorkshire Police Authority, which accompanied the council tax demand, said: "We have decided to spend £93.1m next year so this requires an increase of 41.5 per cent as the contribution to council tax".
What does one say to this? It is beyond belief. Just imagine the response from your employer if you asked for a similar increase. It would be unprintable.
P Southon
Main Street, Thorganby.
Updated: 10:32 Tuesday, April 09, 2002
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