St Albans City & District Council is undergoing a time of financial uncertainty following a series of “unexpected changes”.
In February 2022, the council set a balanced budget for the 2022/23 financial year. However, in December, the council announced that they were forecast to exceed their budget by £1.2million due to soaring inflation rates. It was also estimated that a gap of just under £3million would need to be closed to set a balanced budget for 2023/24.
In response to this financial pressure, the council announced that certain measures will need to be implemented, including increasing fees and charging for currently free services.
Councillor Paul De Kort, lead councillor for the budget and financial strategy, said: “The budget for the current financial year has been put under immense strain by the recent rises in general inflation, energy bills and interest rates.
“We are required by law to deliver a balanced budget, which means we are having to take action now. I hope our residents understand that unless we receive more support from central government, we have no other option.”
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