Locals suffer council tax rise (From Free Press Series)

Locals suffer council tax rise

MORE than 15,000 householders in Monmouthshire are bracing themselves to pay more council tax next year after the first reassessment of property bands in a decade.

Around 1,869 properties will see a reduction in their banding, 20,524 remain in the same banding but a significant 15,756 properties move into a higher banding.

Of the properties moving up, over 13,000 move by one banding, around 2,100 by two bandings and nearly 500 properties will see an increase of three or more bandings.

In addition, some 743 properties will now find themselves in the new Band I, indicating a property value of £424,001 or above.

One of those to be hit is Roy Purnell, a 66-year-old Open University lecturer who lives in a detached house in Mountain View, Llanfoist.

He said: "I already pay £132 a month in council tax and my property has moved from Band F to G.

"I think the whole council tax system is unfair. It should be based on income and controlled centrally to distribute across the country fairly."

Qualifying households will not pay more than a one band increase in year one of the scheme and not more than a two band increase in year two. By the third year the increases will have the full effect.

Deputy Leader, Cllr Graham Down said: "Yet again Monmouthshire's residents are being penalised. Over 15,000 families will have to pay more council tax simply because of where they live. Once more this county has been let down by the National Assembly."

Steve Greenslade, corporate finance director confirmed that the increase in revenue from this revaluation will not result in any more resources being available for services within the county, because the Assembly grant paid to Monmouthshire will be reduced by an equivalent amount.

Cllr Brian Hood called it another stealth tax. "I find it amazing because last time everyone was written to by the District Valuer and given the opportunity to appeal. But this time the first time some people will notice is when they get their council tax bills."

Further information from your one-stop shop or call the Valuation Office Helpline on 9845 600 1748 to find out your new property band.