The average Isle of Wight household is likely to be at least £65 worse off from April as council tax bills rise by the equivalent of a typical weekly family shop.
With an increase in the police precept for Hampshire Constabulary and the fire precept for Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service, as well as the proposed 2.99% increase for the Isle of Wight Council element, Islanders paying a Band D tax rate will be facing a £65.33 increase.
Additional town, parish or community council tax increases are on top of that figure. Sandown residents are to be hit with a heavy 5% precept rise, whilst East Cowes will see no increase. Newport & Carisbrooke are implementing a 2.5% precept rise, as is Ryde. Ventnor have agreed a 6.3% precept rise, which equates to an extra £9.02 a year for a Band D property.
Latest figures from the Office for National Statistics, dating back to 2020, say the average price of a weekly food shop for a family was £63.70 — £1.63 less than the proposed increase.
From 1st April 1, a Band D taxpayer looks set to pay £2,043.04 for public services, jumping from £1977.71. But how does that break down?
Isle of Wight Council
Although it is yet to be approved, the ruling Alliance administration is proposing a 2.99% increase — with 1% of that dedicated to adult social care.
For Band D taxpayers, it could see a £50.33 increase — from £1,680.82 to £1,731.15
The Alliance has proposed £25million for building affordable housing, £3million on infrastructure and transport but increased charges for one of its care services and a fee to optionally live stream funerals.
Hampshire Constabulary
In a move backed by the new Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police and Crime Commissioner, Donna Jones, the amount we pay towards policing on the Island will increase by 4.4%. For a Band D taxpayer, this means a £10 rise — or 19p a week — from £226.46 to £236.46.
Across the 2 counties, this will raise an additional £7million which Ms Jones says will be put towards the recruitment of nearly 200 new officers and investment in crime prevention.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service
The authority has approved a 7.1% increase across the region. For a Band D taxpayer, this means a £5 rise — going from £70.43 to £75.43.
On the Island, this will fund a £1.7million investment programme into the fire stations.
All these individuals are doing, is stealing more money from people by hiding behind the names given to the groups they lurk around in, such as council/police etc. make cuts instead of thieving from workers pockets.
bet you aren’t cutting your salaries are you
Wow so nearly £200 of my council tax is going into your pension pot !!!!!!!
And that’s just 1 household!!!!
If you add up the total amount from the island and used that for service’s instead of your pot ,that could pay for so many more important things to benefit the island !!!!!
Of course we have to give priority to pay up to 17% of our council tax to pay for the council workers extortionate pension plans.
each time they give there staff a pay rise pensions go up with it.
Why should we have to shoulder this when the staff could contribute to their own private pensions.
We also have over ten council members earning over £100000 per year plus benefits.
If these staff were not employed would the island collapse ? No!!
In this time of financial hardship, being the caring types they are they turn the screw ever tighter.
George Orwells animal farm springs to mind. How that one mile of water seems to exclude them from any accountability to the real world beyond.
I would love leave this rotten corrupt isle.
Here’s an idea…
Close down the current Pension scheme, ALL staff then have to use the (now not so) new ‘Nest’ pension scheme. Means Council ‘workers’ will have to pay more towards their retirement like most other ordinary working people. I’m pretty sure that if staff decide to strike if their pension scheme is closed, not many people will notice much of a change in service levels!
Somethings got to change.
It literally is daily light robbery….
I don’t understand why our council thinks that Island residents are a bottomless money pit. Money they take in council tax rises means less money spent in local businesses. Cut their top brass salaries instead.
And all council workers will be at least £65 better off from April
Do these figures include the wonderful £150 per year “discount” our caring government has promised.
Give with one hand and claw it back with the other.
Those who we subsidise, so they only pay 35% of there Council tax. Will also get the £150.00, as apparently its unfair?
Next year Council will charge us even more, so they will pay 25% of the bill. That is wrong, filching of other payers money.
Biggest waste of money is County Hall building itself. What do they do when it gets too hot inside the building, instead of turning the heating down or off no they open the windows and keep the heating set at 25. I know this having worked there and that’s standard practice
No no no they turn on the amazing new air conditioning that we the poor cash cow’s have paid for ….
Along with every other benefit they get …..
Council, Town, Fire and Police all put in unfair increases, then try to minimise as so much per week. Council is more like an employment agency, money going on high salaries and pensions. Very few services, but still funding the professional scroungers.
Any news on the occasional floating bridge. Or are those responsible waiting for the retirement package to kick in.
Council tax is the biggest con ever
We knew Ryde council tax and precepts would go up as soon as Ryde Town Council decided to purchase properties without asking the residents of Ryde first
They did ask, actually.