Northumbria faces a 7.7% council tax increase for police funding. The Commissioner defends the rise, citing low tax base and resource needs.
This means Band D homes pay £14 more per year. She says Northumbria’s police tax will stay the lowest. Most houses are Band A, so they will pay less. Their yearly increase is about £9.33. The plan should generate an extra £5.9 million. This money will help with police resources and some investments.
The money helps tackle problems. She mentioned antisocial behavior and cybercrime. She wants to address child sexual exploitation, too.
Susan Dungworth took over from Kim McGuinness. Dungworth knows people face money problems. Paying more taxes stinks, she admits. Northumbria already has the lowest tax for policing. Plus, it will stay the lowest, she promises.
A Band D household pays £181.84 per year for policing. The national average is £281 per year, they said. South Wales pays much more at £352. A councilor asked about the 7.7% increase. Government funding is increasing, he noted. Inflation was only a 2.5% increase last year.
He said people pay much more than the government increase. He pointed out past increases as well. The police tax rose 33% in four years, he explained. Inflation went up 23%, earnings only 5%.
Dungworth said the bills started from a low amount. Thus, the increase looks larger. She thinks the rise agrees with government expectations. Most residents in a survey backed the plan. Without the rise, police funding gets cut.
She admitted taxes will likely keep rising. This happens even with new government funding. The government provides £100 million for local policing.
Dungworth and the police chief want safer neighborhoods. But proper police funding is vital. The increased funding tackles local issues. Dungworth anticipates details on the government funding. She wants to use those funds wisely. She wants more officers and increased investigations.
This means Band D homes pay £14 more per year. She says Northumbria’s police tax will stay the lowest. Most houses are Band A, so they will pay less. Their yearly increase is about £9.33. The plan should generate an extra £5.9 million. This money will help with police resources and some investments.
The money helps tackle problems. She mentioned antisocial behavior and cybercrime. She wants to address child sexual exploitation, too.
Susan Dungworth took over from Kim McGuinness. Dungworth knows people face money problems. Paying more taxes stinks, she admits. Northumbria already has the lowest tax for policing. Plus, it will stay the lowest, she promises.
A Band D household pays £181.84 per year for policing. The national average is £281 per year, they said. South Wales pays much more at £352. A councilor asked about the 7.7% increase. Government funding is increasing, he noted. Inflation was only a 2.5% increase last year.
He said people pay much more than the government increase. He pointed out past increases as well. The police tax rose 33% in four years, he explained. Inflation went up 23%, earnings only 5%.
Dungworth said the bills started from a low amount. Thus, the increase looks larger. She thinks the rise agrees with government expectations. Most residents in a survey backed the plan. Without the rise, police funding gets cut.
She admitted taxes will likely keep rising. This happens even with new government funding. The government provides £100 million for local policing.
Dungworth and the police chief want safer neighborhoods. But proper police funding is vital. The increased funding tackles local issues. Dungworth anticipates details on the government funding. She wants to use those funds wisely. She wants more officers and increased investigations.
