Yet again we are told to expect our council tax to go up as York City Council looks to save £5 million from next year's budget.

As the Evening Press states, (November 9) the council needs to meet an £8 million shortfall in next year's budget and has so far found ways to save £3 million.

Council leader Rodney Hills has asked all council chiefs to come up with ways of saving the other £5 million.

What's new from previous annual statements at this time of the year is that he has stopped blaming the Government.

Those bad Tories of yesteryear have gone and his own party now pulls the strings.

Mr Hills has not suggested that he and his fellow councillors' will refuse their vast allowances, fees or, indeed, not to increase them next year.

Didn't Tony Blair do it last year to show an example? Didn't, in years gone by, Council leader John Clout refuse all his allowances?

Year after year the Evening Press publishes councillors' allowances to keep the electorate informed of where our council taxes go.

Thank God for open government.

Come on Mr Hills, show us by leading and I for one will pay my increased council tax with a lighter heart.

Brian Rowan,

Fourth Avenue,

Shady Lane,

Heworth,

York.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.