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Council tax increases affect everyone but particularly pensioners. This stealth tax now represents a higher proportion of pensioners outgoings than housing costs and most increases are greater than recent pension increases. Research has shown council tax bills in England have almost doubled since the charge was introduced 10 years ago. The average council tax on a band D home in England soared by 94% over the last ten years - almost 3 times the rate of inflation. In Scotland the rise was lower at 81%. The biggest rise in percentage terms was in Wales - where council tax soared 155%. The average rise, throughout the country, for 2003/2004 was 12.9 per cent and we believe that it was as a direct result of central Government action. On one hand this government has given us a pension increase of ?1.94 per week but has forced cash starved councils into raising council tax to ever increasing levels. From April 2004 the basic state pension will rise by 2.8%. This will give a single pensioner a ?2.20 increase to ?79.65 a week and a couple a ?3.50 increase to ?127.30. However the forecasts for next year's council tax rises are already being reported as being well over 15% which will negate even this pension increase. Is it any wonder that pensioners are up in arms about council tax? Why can?t all councils follow the example of the few who are trying to hold council tax increases for pensioners to the inflation rate. This stealth tax is set to continue increasing every year ? it is time we stopped it. We support the Isitfair campaign - in particular the campaign led by the pensioners of Devon & Cornwall. I believe that Council Tax must be replaced by an increase in Income Tax. The Inland Revenue are much more efficient than Local councils at collecting Taxes. Besides, it will remove the post code effect of living in various areas. In these pages we hope to give you some idea of the problem and some links to groups who are involved in the campaign. John Lynch | ||||||||||||||
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