OKEHAMPTON Town budget for 2004/05 is probably in the initial stages of preparation. Precept payers need a clear statement of affairs to accompany it if the budget is meaningful, this time.
To simply produce a budget sheet is not satisfactory. It needs a simple explanation of how and why the monies are spent. The town precept at £81.56 is the highest, by far, in the borough of West Devon.
When one considers the housing explosion that has occurred in Okehampton over the last ten years, the numbers of precept contributors has doubled or even trebled.
It is logical to expect a pro-rata decrease in an individual precept. This is further emphasised by examining the town?s expenditure headings in the budget sheet. It shows the town?s expenditure has no relation to population figures.
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Additionally, a statement of affairs should itemise spending for the year, per heading, to give a profit/loss figure for the last year, and indicate where profits go.
K H Watmore
18 Fern Close
Okehampton