I CAN fully understand the annoyance expressed by your reader 'The council gets most of my rise' (Times, April 4). Those living on fixed incomes must also find the 10 per cent increase in council tax a burden.
But how is it that council tax has risen so dramatically over the years? I suggest the answer is because of the following reasons.
l the Government has not given local council sufficient funding to provide the services. Therefore, local councils have had to increase our council tax by a greater amount or cut services.
l certain services have been taken out of Government control and put under local control. Again insufficient funds have been allocated for this extra responsibility.
l I am also sure that wastage at all levels of government needs to be overhauled.
Whilst the Government pats itself on the back for keeping income tax down, their revenue comes from stealth taxation, ie council tax. If Government spent wisely they would have money to pass on to the hard up local councils. The European Union membership contribution per year is equivalent to £400 off the council tax of each household. So withdrawal from the EU could save us all money.
Dave Weeks
Courtlyns
Exbourne