Percentage rise is still an increase
MOST of us are aware of the current economic issues and how difficult times are as the country tries to get back on a steady footing.
How refreshing it was then to see that the Newbiggin Town Council (News Post Leader, January 19) has made the sensible decision of not making an increase to the precept in the coming year, despite the extra services forced upon them by Northumberland County Council.
Not so the town council in Cramlington.
Seemingly oblivious to the problems and issues that its residents are currently struggling with, they refused a proposed minimal eight per cent increase, instead choosing a 72 per cent increase as reported in the very same issue.
So a precept increase of 72 per cent over last year’s budget – that itself being an increase of 48 per cent on the previous year.
Within this budget includes an area for staff costs, and whilst the government has announced that public sector workers will be subject to a pay freeze, then only a one per cent increase, seemingly this does not apply to public sector workers in Cramlington Town Council, who have been ‘re-graded’ so the increase in costs to existing staffing on this budget will be 66.8 per cent alone.
Though the Liberal Democrats will argue that in real terms it averages only pennies a week, or “two cigarettes or half a pint of beer a week” as one stated, the percentage increase still remains.
I find it unbelievable that these people are blind to the fact, or just choose to ignore, that we are in hard times, and blaze away regardless.
MARK SWINBURN
Cramlington
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Thursday 17 May 2012
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Comments
There are 2 comments to this article
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billy1967
Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 07:57 PMThe worst thing that ever happened these 'Town Councils' popping up all over the area. They were not needed!
leytonrahman
Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 08:15 PMThe increase in Cramlington Town Councils budget was from £130,000 in 20102011 to £192,000 in 20112012 and now to £330,000 in 20122013!! If only my bankers salary went up at the same rate!! All paid for by you!! Other Town Council did not increase their precept but then they are controlled by Labour, not Liberal Democrats. Leyton Rahman Cramlington
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