Council tax rate freeze from East Sussex Fire and Rescue (From The Argus)
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Council tax rate freeze from East Sussex Fire and Rescue
2:43pm Monday 11th February 2013 in News
East Sussex Fire Authority has agreed to freeze its council tax precept for the third year running.
In exchange for keeping the charge frozen, the authority will receive up to £225 million in funding from the Government’s council tax freeze grant over the next two years.
A spokesman from the East Sussex Fire Authority said: “Due to the national economic situation, there are continued reductions in funding for local authorities.
“East Sussex Fire Authority is working hard to sustain its community services whilst still having to make significant financial savings.
“We recognised that any increase in council tax would impact on already stretched budgets for many local council taxpayers.
The Chairman of East Sussex Fire Authority, Coun John Livings, said the move was only possible because the fire authority had made significant savings, in the range of £2 million per year, due to Government funding cuts.
He added: “However, this latest council tax freeze grant is for two years only and it will be necessary for this authority to resolve a significant funding gap in future years.”
Chancellor George Osborne announced last year the Government had set aside £450 million to help freeze council tax bills in England, meaning taxpayers living |in an average Band D home in Sussex could save up to £72 on a five per cent rise in council tax.
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