That's the way the money goes

Every effort has been made to balance the level of council tax with the need to protect essential services.

Despite the proposed increase, York's council tax will still be among the lowest around.

Last year, of the eight North Yorkshire authorities, York's local tax was second lowest and of 46 unitary authorities nationally, ninth lowest.

We have often complained of the comparatively low grant we get from central Government.

We estimate we need an extra £1.8 million to meet pressures which we feel we simply can't ignore, including:

- £900,000 to help meet growth in demand for care services from some of the city's most vulnerable citizens - including £350,000 to ensure fewer elderly people will be kept waiting in hospital for placements in nursing and residential care and more than £100,000 to help four more young adults with severe physical disabilities

- £400,000 to protect the pensions rights of more than 6,000 staff which have been affected by the general slump in investment returns

- £100,000 to meet the increased costs of flood defences in York

- £100,000 extra in school transport costs

York is already an efficient council. We spend £705 per head of population - the lowest of all 46 unitary authorities, with some spending more than £1,000.

Services in York continue to receive national praise for quality and innovation. However, we have looked hard for even more efficiency gains and will cut £1 million on central and support services.

There are few major cuts in the budget which will affect service delivery to residents.

Most savings come from generating extra income or new ways of funding, sometimes in partnership with other organisations.

Councillor Rod Hills,

Leader,

City of York Council,

Guildhall,

York.

...AS a keen supporter of the local Labour Group, I must correct the misleading impression that Councillor Galloway, leader of the York Liberal Democrats, has given concerning the future rise in council tax.

A 9.5 per cent rise is not high by national standards - Lib Dem-controlled South Gloucester is rising by 12.4 per cent for example.

Council tax in York is considerably lower than in most other UK authorities - in most authorities a 9.5 per cent increase would be about £95 or even more, not the 21p (£76.65) a day it will be in York.

Lib Dem accusations of a lack of public consultation are laughable.

Twenty-three ward committees will discuss the budget, forms are freely available for people to make their comments, and the details are on the council's web site.

Last year the Lib Dems promised extra spending without saying where it would come from.

Will they do that this year and what exactly are they going to cut to pay for it?

Or will they come clean for a change and admit they would have to increase the council tax further or slash frontline services to vulnerable people?

Paul Blanchard,

Managing director,

The Software People Ltd,

Norman Court,

Grape Lane,

York.

...I READ with interest, but no surprise, of our council's decision to raise the council tax bills by around 9.5 per cent - or roughly four times the rate of inflation, a figure that is even more illuminating when we are told that this increase is after a series of budget cuts.

I want to ask our leaders two pertinent questions:

1. If we accept that in general terms costs are increasing by a little over two per cent a year, why are you unable to manage the city's finances within this limit?

2. How much of this incredible increase is due to your own incompetence and how much is down to central government directives?

I owe no allegiance to any political party, but I'm grateful that we do not have inflation running at 12.5 per cent otherwise, given current thinking, we might be faced with increases of 50 per cent.

Colin Lowe,

Moorland Garth,

Strensall, York.

...ONCE again council leader Rod Hills has decided that a rise in Council Tax of 9.5 per cent is about right.

Band D will now be £796.65 for the following year. Rather than be dismayed we should be pleased - for the citizens of Chester. Their band D is £135.95, an increase of 5.9 per cent.

W Howard,

Beech Avenue,

Bishopthorpe, York.

...I CANNOT understand the need for these constant increases every year by our Labour council. The proposal for next year is 9.5 per cent which is nearly four times inflation.

With all the extra revenue from Monks Cross, Clifton Moor and other out-of-town developments the income must now be greater than ever.

Whenever any gaps appear anywhere in the city our planners seem keen to fill them with more houses and offices, which must result also in increased revenue.

Space and green areas in our city are getting harder to find because the temptation to build for income is supreme.

Now cuts are on the agenda as well. Could this be matched by pruning in the council offices and their expenses?

A B Dales,

Long Ridge Lane,

Nether Poppleton,

York.

...THE city fathers are going to go for a near ten per cent rise in council tax and cut services. This gets me angry.

I have taken note of the new businesses and houses that have appeared in the last year.

Surely, this means more revenue?

So where are the improved services?

Did York get its Beacon Council status for accounting wizardry or for slavishly following New Labour policy, which seems to be one of 'don't worry too much about the voters, they will stand for any amount of coal breaking on their heads'?

James Stewart

Beech Grove

York.

Updated: 10:27 Tuesday, February 05, 2002