Council tax rise for Pembrokeshire
Council tax in Pembrokeshire is set to rise by 3.4% in 2010/2011.
The increase amounts to less than 44 pence per week for a Band D property.
It means that the county's council tax is still the lowest in Wales by a large margin.
The Band D Tax for County Council purposes has been set at £687.96 - around £240 less than the Welsh average and £500 a year less than the most expensive.
The Leader of Pembrokeshire County Council, Councillor John Davies, said: "What this gives Pembrokeshire is very simple. It gives us certainty of services in uncertain times."
"We are maintaining services, improving and developing services where there is a need, and lowering costs. We have done this endlessly, and will continue to do it."
He said the Council, had in the words of Appointed Auditor Ceri Stradling, ‘adequate' reserves, and that ‘everything else' was being invested further.
"Most of it is capital investment," he said. "We continue to commit to building new schools, whether in Letterston, Neyland or Fishguard; they are all on the cards for this year."
He added: "Any increase in council tax is unpalatable. This year is no exception, especially against the current financial backdrop - people in this county are facing financial hardships.
"We appreciate that many people are struggling with their finances at the present time, and we are doing our level best to help them.
"We have the problems that money is tight at a time when there is ever-growing demand on the Council's services. We are committed to keeping costs as low as possible at the same time as maintaining the high quality of services that our customers deserve."
The Council Tax demand will also contain the sums of money collected by the Council on behalf of other bodies.
There will be a sum for Dyfed-Powys Police Authority and different sums for each of the Community and Town Councils throughout the county.
The increase amounts to less than 44 pence per week for a Band D property.
It means that the county's council tax is still the lowest in Wales by a large margin.
The Band D Tax for County Council purposes has been set at £687.96 - around £240 less than the Welsh average and £500 a year less than the most expensive.
The Leader of Pembrokeshire County Council, Councillor John Davies, said: "What this gives Pembrokeshire is very simple. It gives us certainty of services in uncertain times."
"We are maintaining services, improving and developing services where there is a need, and lowering costs. We have done this endlessly, and will continue to do it."
He said the Council, had in the words of Appointed Auditor Ceri Stradling, ‘adequate' reserves, and that ‘everything else' was being invested further.
"Most of it is capital investment," he said. "We continue to commit to building new schools, whether in Letterston, Neyland or Fishguard; they are all on the cards for this year."
He added: "Any increase in council tax is unpalatable. This year is no exception, especially against the current financial backdrop - people in this county are facing financial hardships.
"We appreciate that many people are struggling with their finances at the present time, and we are doing our level best to help them.
"We have the problems that money is tight at a time when there is ever-growing demand on the Council's services. We are committed to keeping costs as low as possible at the same time as maintaining the high quality of services that our customers deserve."
The Council Tax demand will also contain the sums of money collected by the Council on behalf of other bodies.
There will be a sum for Dyfed-Powys Police Authority and different sums for each of the Community and Town Councils throughout the county.
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