Council Tax - Unjust?

Mike_St_Helens

Ive just been peeping at this thread...

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=350888

I HATE council tax. Can anyone actually defend it and give a just reason and breakdon of the real costs.......

Hate it, actually hate it like hate....

immoral_angeluk

Well the council tax is split between the main services such as the council itself, police, and fire services plus some other stuff I've forgotten. I don't mind paying it if it means the streets are clean, rubbish/recycling collected and police and fire services available when you need them most!

Mike_St_Helens

Dont the services recieve central government funds ?

Alleycat

You could apply to the council for a breakdown under the Freedom of Information Act? Any breakdown of costs would be different depending on which Local Authority you live in as they all charge different amounts for each of the services.

sashacat

The Councils do receive funds from central government but only a fraction of what it costs. The biggest outlay from council tax is education, and we have all benefitted from that at some time even if we haven't got kids ourselves. The others are fire services, police, libraries, social services, subsidised housing. I use non of these services at the moment (well, except the library), but I don't mind paying because other people, less fortunate, do use them, and I may well need them in the future.

oscar52

Alleycat wrote:

You could apply to the council for a breakdown under the Freedom of Information Act? Any breakdown of costs would be different depending on which Local Authority you live in as they all charge different amounts for each of the services.

You already get this with your annual demand/bill. Payment goes to council for things like refuse collection, street lighting etc. then there are payments to the police - i cant rememeber all of them off hand, but they are listed - with the amounts to each on your bill

Mike_St_Helens

sashacat wrote:

The Councils do receive funds from central government but only a fraction of what it costs. The biggest outlay from council tax is education, and we have all benefitted from that at some time even if we haven't got kids ourselves. The others are fire services, police, libraries, social services, subsidised housing. I use non of these services at the moment (well, except the library), but I don't mind paying because other people, less fortunate, do use them, and I may well need them in the future.

Ok I agree..... But why does TB and GB go on about education at every opportunity when they have no input if the local councils are paying ?

clarab_3

My problem with it is that, in my opinion, it should be means tested, as the old rates system was - and thus based on a persons ability to pay.

I don't want to get into politics because that isnt the point of this board, but in the end its what it comes down to.

Toomuchdebt

I agree-I'm going to find an extra £120 a month a real struggle this year for council tax(was not working before so received full council tax benefit)-it should definitely be means tested I only earn £476 a month and £220 of that goes towards my rent as well leaving me with not very much after that and the council tax are paid.

clarab_3

Mike_St_Helens wrote:

Ok I agree..... But why does TB and GB go on about education at every opportunity when they have no input if the local councils are paying ?

Mike, i do know for a fact that (at least in my local council) the TOTAL amount collected for the whole city wouldnt pay the bill for the schools, never mind leave change for emptying bins etc... Its a top up towards these costs but not the full amount which comes from central funding.

Yes my other half works in the council funding dept!

Mike_St_Helens

clarab wrote:

My problem with it is that, in my opinion, it should be means tested, as the old rates system was - and thus based on a persons ability to pay.QUOTE]


That is my point !

Its not political its a social issue.... whatever government are in its an issue....