Councils have been setting their annual budgets over the last few weeks. This includes the difficult decision of whether to raise council tax and by how much.
The budget covers everything that a council does from care of the elderly and disabled people, social workers for vulnerable children and bin collections. But town halls are increasingly relying on raising council tax to balance the books.
This year, local authorities are allowed to raise council tax by up to 5 pc from April which is made up of a 2.99 pc increase plus an additional 2 pc ringfenced for adult social care only. Any rises higher than this requires a referendum – but none of the councils in the city-region decided to go down this route.
All local authorities in Greater Manchester – whether they are controlled by Labour, Conservative or the Lib Dems – have agreed to increase council tax. Most have opted for the maximum 5 pc increase allowed by the government.
However, councillors in Bolton, Oldham and Stockport limited their council tax increase to 4 pc. In addition to the rate set by town halls, the final council tax bill will include charges which apply to all Greater Manchester households.
Mayor Andy Burnham proposes these precepts which pay for the police, the fire service and other initiatives including free bus passes for 16 to 18 year olds and emergency accommodation for rough sleepers. Next year, the police precept will increase by nearly 5 pc with Band D properties paying £15 more.
The part of the council tax bill that goes towards the fire service will also increase by 7 pc. However, the general mayoral precept has been frozen.
This means that all Greater Manchester households will be charged an extra £13.33 to £40 next year with those in Band D properties paying £20 more. In total, these precepts account for £234.16 of the bill for Band A properties.
However, discounts are offered to those eligble for council tax support schemes. The criteria – and level of support – differs for each borough.
In Manchester, residents receiving council tax support will have £25 taken off their bills. Meanwhile, in Rochdale, all residents will get a 2 pc rebate next year.
The new rates come into effect from April. The Local Democracy Reporting Service has calculated how much households in each borough of Greater Manchester will pay, depending on which council tax band the property is in.
Bands are based on the value of a property in 1991. Precepts set by parish councils – such as in parts of Bolton, Oldham and Wigan – are not included.
Bolton
Band A: £1,359.24
Band B: £1,585.81
Band C: £1,812.32
Band D: £2,038.89
Band E: £2,491.95
Band F: £2,945.06
Band G: £3,398.13
Band H: £4,077.78
Bury
Band A: £1,453.03
Band B: £1,695.21
Band C: £1,937.37
Band D: £2,179.56
Band E: £2,663.89
Band F: £3,148.24
Band G: £3,632.59
Band H: £4,359.11
Manchester
Band A: £1,312.99
Band B: £1,531.83
Band C: £1,750.66
Band D: £1,969.50
Band E: £2,407.16
Band F: £2,844.83
Band G: £3,282.50
Band H: £3,939.00
Oldham
Band A: £1,415.28
Band B: £1,651.15
Band C: £1,887.04
Band D: £2,122.93
Band E: £2,594.68
Band F: £3,066.44
Band G: £3,538.21
Band H: £4,245.86
Rochdale
Band A: £1,479.34
Band B: £1,725.91
Band C: £1,972.46
Band D: £2,219.03
Band E: £2,712.13
Band F: £3,205.26
Band G: £3,698.37
Band H: £4,438.06
Salford
Band A-: £1,229.73
Band A: £1,475.68
Band B: £1,721.63
Band C: £1,967.57
Band D: £2,213.53
Band E: £2,705.41
Band F: £3,197.31
Band G: £3,689.21
Band H: £4,427.06
Stockport
Band A: £1,489.77
Band B: £1,738.07
Band C: £1,986.36
Band D: £2,234.66
Band E: £2,731.24
Band F: £3,227.84
Band G: £3,724.43
Band H: £4,469.33
Tameside
Band A: £1,390.53
Band B: £1,622.29
Band C: £1,854.03
Band D: £2,085.82
Band E: £2,549.30
Band F: £3,012.83
Band G: £3,476.35
Band H: £4,171.63
Trafford
Band A: £1,251.16
Band B: £1,459.70
Band C: £1,668.21
Band D: £1,876.76
Band E: £2,293.79
Band F: £2,710.85
Band G: £3,127.92
Band H: £3,753.52
Wigan
Band A: £1,220.53
Band B: £1,423.95
Band C: £1,627.37
Band D: £1,830.81
Band E: £2,237.64
Band F: £2,644.49
Band G: £3,051.34
Band H: £3,661.62
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