As part of its draft annual budget for 2022/23, Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) has announced plans to increase its portion of council tax bills.
At a meeting in February, councillors could end up approving an increase of up to 3.99 per cent. This would be a 1.99 per cent general increase, plus a 2% increase that would be ring-fenced for the adult social care system.
It would mean the average Band D household would pay an increase of £58.68, bringing their total up to £1,529.31.
When asked about the increase, council leader Cllr Richard Roberts said to RICKYnews:
“We have tremendous pressures in the care system at the moment. We need to retain and recruit care staff and build on the increase in care wages over the last two years.
“This year we will be putting £18m into care worker wages so that non one working in Hertfordshire need be below the National Living Wage. Care staff have gone above and beyond during the pandemic and continue to be the bed rock of caring for older residents at home, in care homes and for those living with disabilities.
“Our council tax increase of 3.99% is below inflation but I would be the first to recognise that this is another cost-of-living increase that hard pressed families will have to absorb. For a Band D property this mean paying just over a pound extra a week for vital County Council services.”
Also included in the plan is a proposed £52.5 million to go into various environmental matters and an estimate £54.5 million for and care related issues, including a reform of the county’s social care system.
A public consultation of the full draft budget is available to access at www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/about-the-council/consultations/council-budget/have-your-say-on-budget-spending-2022-23.aspx
Photo Credit: JThomas
Please do not do this to us. We are barely managing to pay our bills as it is.
How much more can we take of this relentless pressure.