Care for elderly hits council tax

7:00pm Wednesday 19th March 2008

Comments (8)   Have your say »

INCREASED council spending on elderly people is to hit taxpayers in the pocket.

Partly caused by an overspend on social services, Herefordshire Council is putting up council tax by 4.4%.

The increase - approved by councillors at the Shire Hall last Friday and down on earlier projections - means the average resident will pay an extra £47.67 to Herefordshire Council next year.

A Band D homeowner currently pays £1,083.46 to the council, rising to £1,131.13 with the increase, which does not include claims from parish councils and service authorities.

The county's growing elderly population is a key cause of the increase, with an extra £871,000 being earmarked in the budget for adult services.