|
Council tax explained
Hull City Council charges one of the lowest council tax rates in the country
Every time you visit a library, swimming pool, park, or museum in Hull, you are seeing how some of your council tax payments contribute to the city.
And when you have your wheelie bins emptied and your household waste taken for recycling, once again council tax funds these vital services.
Without your council tax payments these and many more essential services would grind to a halt.
Council tax is a local charge set by Hull City Council and it makes up 20 per cent of the council's overall budget - the rest comes from government grants.
The amount you pay is set by the value of your property – lower value properties are classed in council tax bands A-D and pay less than higher value properties classed in bands E to H.
A portion of what you pay also goes to the police and fire authorities in Hull to help provide emergency services and keep you safe.
This year, the total amount payable for an average band D property will be £1335.70, but most homes in Hull are band A and will receive a council tax bill of £890.47.
This an increase of just £28.65 from last year, which at £2.39 a month is less than one return bus fare to Hull city centre from most areas of the city.
Meanwhile, the council was set a government target of saving £9.3 million last year and we exceeded that by a further £1 million to keep your council tax bills down.
Savings were made by being more efficient with housing repairs, making better use of technology, and streamlining administration.
"Council tax payers receive excellent value for money and we are doing everything we can to keep to keep bills down," says Cllr Carl Minns, the leader of Hull City Council.
"We also make sure we spend council tax on the services local people say are important, such as clearing litter from the streets and fighting crime."
Where the council spends money
Total service expenditure 2009-10 |
£'000 |
% |
 |
Children and young people |
283,754 |
34 |
Community services |
271,832 |
32 |
Culture, leisure and sports |
21,029 |
3 |
Highways, transportation and waste |
63,048 |
8 |
Housing |
95,160 |
11 |
Other services |
88,762 |
11 |
Capital financing charges |
13,599 |
2 |
Total expenditure |
837,184 |
100 |
|
For more information on council tax please visit www.hullcc.gov.uk or read the Your Council, Your Money 2009-10 leaflet which you should have received through your door with your council tax bill.
If you have not received the leaflet please call 300300.
|
|
