Council Tax 2004/2005

Epsom & Ewell Borough Council have increased their expenditure by 6% in their budget for 2004/2005 and their share of the Council Tax by 4.75%. The RA party rejected a Lib Dem amendment proposing a smaller 4% rise.

Surrey County Council's 2004/2005 budget will increase their share of Council Tax by 4.4%. Although this may seem like good news compared to 17.9% last year, for pensioners and other people on fixed incomes it is still twice the inflation rate, and expenditure is set to rise 6.3%. RA and Labour county councillors supported the Tory budget, the Lib-Dems voted against it.

The Surrey Police Authority have increased their share of Council Tax by 8.9%. Ironically this tax increase is needed to fund a 5.8% increase in expenditure, whereas the County Council's 4.4% tax increase is to cover a 6.3% increase in expenditure.

The total Council Tax burden on Epsom & Ewell residents will rise by 5.0% overall.