COUNCIL tax bills for the next financial year will soon be sent out after the total precepts were adopted last week.

As the billing authority, Herefordshire Council has a statutory duty to reflect the individual precepts set by each parish council, West Mercia Police, and Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service in setting the overall council tax due from homes across the county.

Last Friday the full council accepted the precepts agreed by each parish council, the Police and Crime Commissioner for West Mercia, and Hereford & Worcester Fire Authority.

Herefordshire Council has risen its share of the council tax by 4.9 per cent, which for a Band D property equates to £67 more a year.

The police has increased its share by 3.94 per cent, which is a rise of £7.47 for Band D, and the fire service has increased theirs by 2.98 per cent which is an increase of £2.37 for a band D.

Each parish and town council sets its own precept which means this does vary. The parish precept has risen on average by 10.5 per cent which on average equates to an extra £5.94 for a Band D property.

This means for a Band D property the council tax bill for the year will increase by approximately £82.78.

Leader of Herefordshire Council, Jonathan Lester, said: “In the next two years we will no longer receive central government funding. We continue to look at all the ways we can fund our essential services and increasing Council Tax adds £4.6m additional income to the budget.

"Alongside this we will strive to ensure value for money and efficiency in the services we deliver, such as looking after our children and adults, maintaining our roads and delivering more jobs and housing through our burgeoning local economy."