January 2003

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COUNCIL CONFIRM COUNCIL TAX LEVELS FOR 2003 - 2004

A rise of £50 at Band D (5.3% increase) has been agreed by The Highland Council. This will give the following charges in 2003-2004: -

A 659.33

B 769.22

C 879.11

D  989

E 1208.78

F 1428.56

G 1648.33

H 1978

In agreeing the tax level for 2003-2004, the Council has agreed a budget of £412.3 million, which shows a growth in spending of £30 million or 7.8%.

The Council has also indicated that the rise at Band D in 2004-2005  will be £50 and in 2005-2006 - £60, when the second Education Public Private Partnership programme begins.  This would give the following charges: -

                  A              B             C            D           E           F             G         H
2004/05  692.67     808.11     923.56     1039    1269.89  1500.78  1731.67  2078

2005/06 732.67     854.78      976.89     1099    1343.22  1587.44  1831.67  2198

Councillors were warned that they might have difficulty containing the increases in future years because of much tighter grant settlements and doubts over the adequacy of the settlement to meet pay awards and inflationary pressures alone. On top of this there were a number of significant developments and initiatives taking place that could have a major cost impact on the budget in the coming years.