Devon Councillors Approve Council Tax Rise After Heated Debate

Parties argued about records. Devon decided how to spend money next year. The debate was heated at times. Councillors discussed next year’s budget. Taxpayers will pay more, councillors learned. Government grants are becoming less generous now.

Residents will see a council tax increase. It is a 4.99 percent rise, at most. This averages £85.59 more per year. That is about £1.64 each week. An average Band D home will pay £1,801.26. This payment goes to the county council.

District, fire, and police costs add to this. The total amount payable is more. Conservatives will use second home tax money. This helps balance the tight budget right now. A £10 million grant loss hurt funds. They will also borrow an extra £9 million. This covers larger projects. They are also shifting £35 million from reserves.

The council hasn’t borrowed like this since 2009. Conservatives then took control of County Hall. Debt is lower than when they started. This is according to James McInnes. He stated administration has been prudent.

Liberal Democrats criticized the budget plan. Some saw the tough spot Devon is in right now. Devon gets the least funding in England. Alan Connett suggested Devon could face bankruptcy. This might happen in just over a year. The budget’s financial statement has a condition.

Finances are solid if government helps Send spending. They could let councils keep deficits separate. This ability is due to end in March 2026. If it isn’t extended, reserves vanish quickly. Devon’s Send deficit may hit £132 million by March. It could then rise to nearly £163 million next year.

Some councillors said Lib Dems lacked solutions. Eight Lib Dems voted against or stayed neutral. Carol Whitton called the Lib Dem position “strange.” They say the budget is bad. They cannot propose a better solution, she stated. She thought this was irresponsible and insincere.

Tracy Adams said the Conservatives made their own problems. She stated they expect the government to fix Send. She said they didn’t act quickly enough to solve problems. Problems are now surfacing. Julian Brazil said Devon’s funding was “appalling.”

He said it’s a funding cut after taking inflation into account. Thirty-eight councillors approved the budget. Four voted against it, and seven abstained. Some Conservatives opposed tax increases.