Unfair!!! - Government Withholds MK Council Money

6.00.00pm GMT Wed 10th Dec 2003

The Government is taking £4.9 million from Milton Keynes Council - which their own formula says we should have. That's an extra 8% on council tax!

They haven't allowed money to cover inflation or the growth of the city, despite the government wanting to build 70,000 extra houses here.

The Council is faced with either a large increase in the unfair council tax or deep service cuts that will affect everybody - such as turning street lights off, and closing facilities for older people. The Liberal Democrats are proposing a council tax increase of 12.9% to keep these valuable services. The rise would only be 4.9% but for the Labour Government.

• Council tax in Milton Keynes is lower than in any of our neighbouring areas (see below).

• Last year, the Liberal Democrats increased council tax by less than half the national average.

• Only the Liberal Democrats are campaigning to scrap council tax and replace it with a fair tax related to people's ability to pay.

Did You Know?

Milton Keynes has the lowest Council tax compared with the other places near here.

The average for a Band D property is:

South Beds £1,237

Chiltern £1,195

Mid Beds £1,181

Bedford £1,170

Aylesbury Vale £1,095

Wycombe £1,093

Northampton £1,091

South Bucks £1,089

South Northants £1,083

Milton Keynes £1,023

The national average is £1,114.