New Forest residents face a 5% council tax increase starting in April, impacting various services and town rates.
The council voted on this increase at a meeting. The Conservative party, which runs the New Forest District Council, voted for a 2.99% increase. That’s about six pounds more for the year. A band-D property, considered average for the area, will now pay over two thousand pounds. Band-D homes will pay an extra hundred pounds this year, amounting to the five percent total.
Council tax pays for various services, including county, town, and parish councils’ costs. Police and fire services also receive funding from it. Hampshire County Council raised their part by about five percent, meaning an extra seventy-six pounds. The police increased their portion by 5.35%, adding approximately fourteen pounds more per year.
Fire services requested a 6.03% increase, which translates to five pounds more each year. Town and parish rates rose the most, averaging a 7.38% increase, with Band D homes paying around eight pounds more.
A council leader explained the increase, stating that their share appears small and could be easily missed within the larger bill, which covers many services. The council, according to her, only manages a small piece of the overall funding.
The Liberal Democrats suggested an alternative budget that did not pass the vote, involving spending to reduce child poverty, solar panels for parking, and enhanced business support. They believe the district requires a significant shift and fear priorities may be overlooked.
The Liberal Democrats view their budget as a plan for the future. In contrast, Conservative members voted for their tax increase, which passed with forty-one votes and one abstention.
Here is a list of the total tax for each town: Ashurst is £2,240, Beaulieu is £2,214, Boldre is £2,213, Bramshaw is £2,210, Bransgore is £2,301, Breamore is £2,208, Brockenhurst is £2,256, Burley is £2,207, Copythorne is £2,201, Damerham is £2,226, Denny Lodge sits at £2,220.
East Boldre totals £2,223, Ellingham is £2,222, Exbury is £2,178, Fawley tops out at £2,348, Fordingbridge comes in at £2,322, Godshill tallies £2,238, Hale equals £2,231, Hordle ends up at £2,253, Hyde reaches £2,209, and Hythe sums it up at £2,341.
Lymington amounts to £2,321, Lyndhurst finishes at £2,261, Marchwood totals £2,346, Martin rings in at £2,238, Milford sits at £2,257, Minstead ends up at £2,222, Netley Marsh tallies £2,222, New Milton runs up to £2,310, and Ringwood results £2,303.
Rockbourne rounds up to £2,269, Sandleheath sums to £2,213, Sopley scores £2,271, Sway stretches to £2,243, Totton tallies £2,356, Whitsbury winds up at £2,199, and Woodgreen wraps with £2,221.