RATEPAYERS in Okehampton will face a rise of around 25% in their council tax demands in the coming year, following a budget rise agreed by members on Monday.
The precept agreed by the town council for 2003/04 will be £168,962, or £82.30 for a person living in a band D property, rising from £65.28 this year.
Town clerk Don Bent said the increase had been agreed by all councillors as a sensible and necessary move.
?The budget is biased towards maintenance of the council?s assets, which hasn?t been done for many years,? said Mr Bent.
The budget includes money to be set aside for a new spinal road in Simmons Park, plus implementation of some of the recommendations required by the Disability Discrimination Act.
?This will be ongoing, we are just spreading the cost over the years,? said Mr Bent.
?We will still be paying grants to organisations within the town and if anyone thinks they might qualify, we would encourage them to write to us,? he said.
Another item included in the budget is a feasibility study into the viability of a paddling pool in Simmons Park. The council is also pursuing the ideas identified in the Okehampton performance plan produced a year ago.
Cllr Christine Marsh, mayor of Okehampton, said all councillors recognised that the precept needed to be increased to improve and maintain facilities in the town.
She said: ?If people want a high-standard town, the money has to come from somewhere, and we are endeavouring to keep the standards high in Okehampton.?
The Okehampton Town Council precept forms just a small part of the total amount paid by council tax payers.
West Devon Borough Council is due to set its precept at its meeting on February18 and the Devon County Council precept, which forms the bulk of residents? tax bills, will also be set some time next month.