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Council Tax - whats yours and do you think it a good system?

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Comments

  • jackieb
    jackieb Posts: 27,605 Forumite
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    drc wrote: »
    No, water not included. We pay £300+ per year for Thames Water (unmetered). Seems like another freebie for you lucky Scots.

    If you bother to read mitchaa's link, you'll see that he pays £265 for his water, which is included in his council tax. It's not free.
  • Really2
    Really2 Posts: 12,397 Forumite
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    edited 19 March 2010 at 3:19PM
    beecher2 wrote: »
    I don't understand why people think local services should be paid for differently from those services funded by central government.

    What would they be? I don't think they do my bins, police, fire service, parks, etc etc so how are the services the same either?
    If the services are different why should the distribution of the cost be the same?
  • mramra
    mramra Posts: 619 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts
    jackieb wrote: »
    Same as above. My sister doesn't have to pay sewerage though because she has a septic tank.

    Are Americans exempt? :rotfl:
  • Butterfly_Brain
    Butterfly_Brain Posts: 8,862 Forumite
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    drc wrote: »
    No, water not included. We pay £300+ per year for Thames Water (unmetered). Seems like another freebie for you lucky Scots.
    Lucky you we pay £492 pa unmetered:eek:
    Blessed are the cracked for they are the ones that let in the light
    C.R.A.P R.O.L.L.Z. Member #35 Butterfly Brain + OH - Foraging Fixers
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  • ukcarper
    ukcarper Posts: 17,337 Forumite
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    Really2 wrote: »
    I think part of the idea was right, I think it should be in some way proportional to use of service. Per capita seems logical, but I am not fully converse what poll tax entailed.

    How can you make it proportional to services it would be much to difficult
  • beecher2
    beecher2 Posts: 3,677 Forumite
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    Really2 wrote: »
    What would they be? I don't think they do my bins, police, fire service, parks, etc etc so how are the services the same either?

    The NHS for a start. Also the 75% of local services funded by central government.
  • Really2
    Really2 Posts: 12,397 Forumite
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    ukcarper wrote: »
    How can you make it proportional to services it would be much to difficult

    Per capita,

    Incremental on adults and children living in a property and discounts based on affordability.

    EG I could move my parents in, they no longer pay council tax I pay no extra council tax but my use of landfill, services etc would have increased.
    How is that fair?
  • Really2
    Really2 Posts: 12,397 Forumite
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    beecher2 wrote: »
    The NHS for a start.

    That is partly funded by NI but could be used by anyone at any time at any cost and was set up to benefit all? It is not the same as how much waste I produce IMHO.

    But you have to admit the service providing by a council are different so why should it be based on the same as income when we already pay an income tax that already increases on the more you earn?
  • smudger1964
    smudger1964 Posts: 683 Forumite
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    Band F £2409.55 Sussex
  • beecher2
    beecher2 Posts: 3,677 Forumite
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    Really2 wrote: »
    That is partly funded by NI but could be used by anyone at any time at any cost.

    But you have to admit the service providing by a council are different so why should it be based on the same as income when we already pay an income tax that already increases on the more you earn?

    No I don't see how it is different. My income tax goes on many things I don't use, and some I do. My council tax mostly goes on education and social care which I don't use. Only a tiny proportion goes on emptying the bins, which people seem to fixate on. I'm paying for the services to be available for the community, not specifically for me or my household.
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