Council tax frozen again

Shropshire Council is freezing its element of the council tax bill yet again to help householders who are feeling the squeeze.

Councillors agreed to a 0% council tax rise when they discussed the issue at a meeting of full council on Thursday (23 February 2012).

Council tax bills include payments to the West Mercia Police Authority, Shropshire and Wrekin Fire Authority and your local parish or town council, as well as Shropshire Council.

Council leader, Keith Barrow, said the council had frozen council tax since 2010 as councillors wanted to do all they could to help residents manage their household bills as the recession continued to bite.

He said:

“I am passionate about keeping council tax as low as possible, and we felt it was important to do what we could to give householders a break during these tough economic times, so we have decided not to increase our proportion of council tax again.

“Your tax also goes towards vital services provided by the police, fire service, and your parish or town council.  There is often some misunderstanding that the whole of the council tax bill goes to Shropshire Council, but that’s not the case.

“We have been working extremely hard to make savings by reshaping our organisation, making it as efficient as possible to keep council tax bills as low as possible.  As leader of the council, it’s my job to make sure that every pound of your hard-earned money will be spent wisely.”