THE annual juggling of figures by Tavistock Town Council has resulted in a possible increase amounting to an annual packet of cigarettes for the average tax payer.
Although the town council is to ask for an increase of more than 17 per cent in funding next year, the raise to residents would be nominal, town councillors were told last week.
Finance committee chairman Norma Woodcock asked members to approve a precept of £163,000, compared with £139,000 last year.
Mrs Woodcock said: 'This has been a difficult year and we have some catching up to do. It is a realistic increase — we have a duty to be prudent.'
Deputy mayor Harry Smith said the proposed reserve fund of £28,000 was a sensible way forward considering the council's aim of producing an £80,000 over a four or five-year period.
'Many of us sat for many hours pondering over the figures. I am fully supportive of this budget — we have taken a great deal of care to keep it sensible,' he said.
Councillor Ken Sanders added: 'Although this might seem to be an enormous rise, if you break it down it will cost each of the council tax payers in this town a little more than a pack of cigarettes for the whole of the year.'
The council faced severe financial problems during the past year, mainly caused by legal and professional costs involved with an arbitration case concerning the refurbishment of council properties.
Included in the top priority list agreed by the council were roof repairs in the pannier market complex, improvements to council offices, machinery and equipment for council works staff and Millennium grants for next year's European town criers' championship.
Councillors agreed the proposed precept unanimously, which will be forwarded to West Devon Borough Council for inclusion in their budget preparation.