A 7.4% hike in the money council tax payers contribute to South Wales Police has been approved. The precept proposal for next year (2023-24) went before the South Wales Police and Crime Panel on Tuesday, February 7, and the panel decided not to veto it.
It will see an increase of £1.86 per month for Band D properties, a 7.4% rise compared with the 2022-23 rate, although most people (those in bands A-C) will pay less than that. It will mean a £1.24 per month increase for Band B properties will pay £1.24 per month extra, and there will be a £1.45 increase for Band A. With 68% of households being below Band D, most people will be paying between 29p and 38p extra a week.
The force is facing a £20.8m budget gap, which South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Alun Michael said must be made up through cuts and the precept. The panel’s comments were that the precept level was very high and would place further financial pressure on the public.
