Council tax bills on the Isle of Wight look set to rise for the ninth year running.
The local authority has launched its public budget consultation, in which it says it expects to spend around £400 million in the next financial year.
In the introduction to its online survey, the council says it is proposing to increase council tax by the maximum two per cent permitted by Government.
The Alliance administration has warned that more cuts will need to be made over the next year "to keep pace with other increasing cost pressures."
It estimates that, even with an increase in council tax, it will need to find a further £3 million. It says this will be done through "efficiency measures" or cuts to services.
Among the questions the survey asks is for Islanders to rank the areas of social care in priority order, whether council tax should be increased by more than two per cent — which would be decided by a referendum — and how remaining funds should be spent.
Council leader, Councillor Lora Peacey-Wilcox, said:
“Insufficient government funding levels and increases in demand for care services have forced the council to make continuous savings and cuts in previous years. Up to April 2021 we have had to make cumulative savings of more than £86 million.
“Following those years of insufficient government funding and with inflation currently at 4.2 per cent and rising, we are trying to keep services running and to provide value for money.
“Despite substantial increases in social care costs, the government has also cut the maximum additional council tax we can levy for adult social care services from three per cent to one per cent.
“The Alliance administration realises the Island cannot rely on government for any substantial financial assistance that will materially alter our current financing and has, as a result, adopted a new positive strategy focussed on locally driven income generation.
"A range of innovative initiatives are being developed that build on natural assets of our beautiful Island, capitalise on our council land and other resources and fully utilise our professional staff and external partners.
"These will take time to plan and put into practice but work is underway as they represent a real prospect of driving recovery and benefitting all Islanders.”
Last year, under the Conservatives, council tax was increased by a near five per cent.
The draft budget is still being prepared and isn't expected to be completed until the New Year.
In the meantime, Islanders are encouraged to give feedback here https://www.surveymonkey.co.
The deadline for responses in January 21, 2022.
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