DESPITE another above inflation increase in council tax demands this year, albeit smaller than last year, we are still set to see cuts to some services (Times, February 26).
How has the council tax system become both so unfair to those on fixed incomes as well as unable to come up with the money our councils need to run our services? The Government?s answer? To propose tweaking the current set-up, no doubt costing even more to administer.
The Lib Dems seem to have an answer in their plans for a Local Income Tax. This we know would mean most of us either saving money or paying no more, with only the highest earners paying more.
I can?t but feel this system must be much cheaper to run as well. We already have a method for collecting income tax and it must be cheaper to run one scheme rather than two and having civil servants galore doing apparently little bar taking to court pensioners who simply cannot afford unreasonable tax demands. And just think of all that money saved in lawyers? fees too!
The Local Income Tax scheme must surely be the way forward. Not only fairer but likely to release more money to spend on the front line where it?s most needed, or perhaps even reduce the overall tax burden.
Dave Goodwin
Sticklepath