A FIRE authority has agreed a council tax increase.
East Sussex Fire Authority voted in the 1.94% hike in a meeting on Thursday.
It means Band D properties will go up by £1.62 and will cost £85.07 a year.
It will fund 61% of the authority’s net revenue budget set at £38.6 million. In the budget 68% is spent on employees.
It is the second time in five years the authority has increased council tax and it says it is becoming more dependent on funding from business rates and tax payers as central government grants are being reduced. The grant reduced by 26% from £10.5 million in 2013/14 to £7.8 million in 2015/16. It is expected to fall to £2.8 million by 2019/20.
Authority chairman Phil Howson said: “East Sussex Fire Authority remains committed to providing an effective and efficient fire and rescue service in these challenging financial times. We have already agreed a number of savings which are being implemented. These will ensure that not only is our financial future secure but that the community we serve remains protected.”
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