The Argus today reveals the extent of council tax rises across Sussex.

Increases of between four and five per cent have been imposed across the county for 2007-2008, sending tax levels in some parts of Sussex to more than double the rate they were ten years ago.

The rises rubber stamped this year also make the tax officially the fastest-rising household expense most British adults will pay.

Our findings show that in Lewes council tax has risen 184.3 per cent since 1995.

Brighton and Hove City Council Band D tax is up by 104 per cent since 1997.

The bad news comes as other living costs, inflation and taxes in Sussex are putting the squeeze on householders.

The rise in council tax is out of all proportion with inflation.

According to the Retail Price Index, a pint of beer has risen by just 30p - roughly 15 per cent - in the same period.

Similarly a pint of milk has risen by 5p in the last decade - about ten per cent.

Locally, politicians have defended the rises by saying the Government has refused to fund the South East as much as other parts of the country. But the fact that council tax, seen in some quarters as outdated and grossly unfair, has to be paid at all grates with many.

The received wisdom in town halls across Sussex is that it is high time a fairer system was introduced.

One of the county's most senior politicians, who has a say in setting council tax this year, now believes it should be scrapped in favour of a local tax which funds local services.

West Sussex County Council leader Henry Smith believes a local tax, similar to that used in North America, would be far fairer.

He said: "It is clear this is now a broken system and council tax should be scrapped.

"This system is propagating classic wealth redistribution from the South East to parts of the North and North East and that is grossly unfair on the people of Sussex.

"People think this is a wealthy county but there are also parts which are deprived.

"One idea is to scrap VAT and impose a local sales tax which everyone would pay, including visitors. That would mean local services are funded locally."

Coun Smith said he would not be in favour of an income tax.

Simon Burgess, leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, told The Argus in 2006 that the council tax could not continue to rise at the current rates.

He said: "I do not think inflationbusting increases like we have seen will be sustainable much longer."

East Sussex County Council deputy leader Tony Reid agreed that the county had been given a "rough deal" by central funding.

He said: "Although central Government has given more funding to local government overall, we feel that East Sussex has again been given a rough deal.

"Outside school funding, we have only received a small grant increase (2.7 per cent).

"It means we will have to find £7 million in savings to keep council tax rises down and still give additional funding to our main priorities such as care for the elderly.

"Through careful planning and a hard look at how we do things we have been able to keep real cuts to a minimum - but some difficult decisions have been inevitable."

Both county councils have admitted that despite the rising taxes, cuts to services will happen.

To see council tax rates in Sussex for 2007-08, click here.