COUN Quentin Macdonald warned that revaluation of properties in York could lead to higher council tax bills in 2007 (August 12). How strange, the year 2007 seems to be cropping up all too often.

In 2003 the Chief Constable for North Yorkshire Police was saying that she had to build up a pension fund reserve to pay for a large number of police officers retiring in 2007 (remember the 76 percent hike in the precept?). But it does not end there.

In 2007, the North Yorkshire Police Authority will take on the role of employers and will take on the running of the police pension fund in full (with Government topping up as and when needed).

So the question has to be, are we to face another 76 per cent increase on the police precept in addition to the extra £25 on the council tax?

All these things are part of Government long-term planning and I suggest that Coun Macdonald should be getting some answers.

P Richardson,

York Road,

Haxby, York.

Updated: 10:12 Tuesday, August 16, 2005