Council tax bills soar by 121 percent since 1993

Council tax bills soar by 121 percent since 1993

	Published : Sun, 02 Oct 2005 19:05 By : Cedric Benson Print this Story

LONDON - A new report released by Halifax today shows that the average council tax bill in England has crossed the £1,000 mark for the first time since it was introduced nearly 12 years ago.

The mortgage lender said that the council tax bill has soared by over 121 percent in just over a decade. The bank pointed out that this massive jump was well over the 36 percent rise in inflation during the concurrent period. It was also more than twice the 49 percent increase in the price of other services.

The jump is slightly lower in Scotland at 101 percent. Current bills there stand at £925. Wales recorded a 186 percent jump is council tax bills to around £760. "Council tax bills are growing significantly faster than inflation. Bills diverge markedly across the country - in some cases by more than 50 per cent - and growth rates have differed by a wide margin between local authorities," observed Martin Ellis, Halifax chief economist.

Richmond-upon-Thames and southwest London pay the highest council tax bills at £1,549. Wandsworth was found to have the lowest bills at an average of £571. This borough also had the least rise of 45 percent in the tax over the 12 years from 1993. Wellingborough in the East Midlands had the distinction of seeing the biggest rise over 12 years at a massive 374 percent.

This rise in council tax bills has frustrated the average taxpayer no end. Last week a 70-year-old woman was jailed for a week for her refusal to pay the tax. Mrs. Sylvia Hardy from Exeter refused to pay her bills and told the court that the increase in her bills was more than she as a pensioner could afford. She was released after only two days in jail a kindly soul shelled out the £53.71 owed by her.