A 4.7% increase in council tax has been passed in Merthyr Tydfil through the casting vote of the independent mayor after the opposition Labour group voted against it. The budget and council tax increase was recommended by cabinet to full council for approval on Wednesday, March 8, and after a vote which saw 15 vote in favour and 15 against, the mayor, Councillor Declan Sammon, used his casting vote to pass it after Labour opposed it, raising concerns about the level of council tax rise and the budget setting process.
The council tax rise means that a Band D property would pay £1,828.34 for 2023/2024 which is an increase of £82.07 or £1.58 per week. The report said that as 84% of the properties within the county borough were valued at Bands A to C, a significant proportion of council taxpayers would pay less than £1,828.34.
The 4.7% council tax increase is set to generate extra income of £959,000 for the council. It also mentions the council tax reduction scheme for 2023/24 which council has approved and provides support with council tax payments for those residents eligible to apply.
