Well, like for most of you, no doubt, my council tax bill dropped through the letterbox this morning and, to be fair to Hastings Borough Council and East Sussex County Council, despite central government yet again reducing its contribution to council spending due to 'austerity cuts', they have kept their parts of the bill down to the current level of inflation in Britain (according to the Consumer Prices Index) of 3%.
PCC Katy Bourne
However, you will notice that your overall council tax has in fact increased by 5.6%, which is due to the 7.8% increase in the amount to be spent by the Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner (PCC). This is due to this year's police grant from central government remaining at the same level as last year, with no allowance for inflation, also, to try and prevent the planned reduction in numbers of officers and other staff posts in Sussex Police by 476 following £88 million of austerity cuts since 2009.
Another bill higher than inflation, and higher than wage increases for most people, for those who are getting increases, that is...
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