Residents have voiced concerns over the council’s decision to raise council tax by 4.99% following the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement.
The 2023/24 financial year may have just got more difficult for the average household in Sheffield, with Sheffield City Council looking to raise council tax by 4.99%.
This follows the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement last year, which gave local councils the ability to increase council tax by 5%.
Over the last 10 years, council tax in Sheffield has increased by 37.9%, taking a Band D property bill from £1,489.07 to 2,053.83.
The Strategy and Resources Policy Committee has said that most households would likely see their council tax bills rise by £1.12 per week under the plans, which would generate about £5m in funding.
There is a consensus of negativity towards the proposed hike in council tax from residents, with there being a feeling of distrust between residents and the council.
Mark Skipton, 33, from Nether Edge said: “I mean I knew it would be the case as soon as they [government] said they [local councils] could do more.
“On one hand I get it because why wouldn’t they [increase it], but on the other hand they’ve really got to remember all of us too”.
For others, however, there is a sense of fear about the future, as felt by first-time homeowner Kirsty Hall of Walkley.
The 29-year-old said: “I’ve just recently moved into my house with my partner, we’ve got a baby, it’s definitely scary to hear that.”
Councillor Bryan Lodge has stated that government funding for Sheffield has been reduced by £211 million over the years, which is about £828 per household.
This has led to the council to believe that they have been forced into this “difficult choice”.
Sheffield City Council is not alone in their decision to increase council tax by the maximum 4.99%, as three-quarters of English councils that have social care duties have planned the maximum increase.
Although, council tax has steadily increased over the last decade, the council has always managed to find savings, with £48 million already being identified in the 2023/24 budget.
Tony Kirkham, interim director of finance and commercial services said that if the council did not act now, they would become “financially unsound” from 2024 onwards.
Furthermore, the council has said the alternative to this would have been additional spending cuts, and they would have had “too great an impact on the city”.
The councillors will consider the draft budget proposals on 21 February, and the full council will vote on the final budget on 1 March.