Angus Council Tax Increase Approved
Councillors in Angus have approved a 9.38% increase in council tax following the local authority's annual budget meeting.
This rise means the average Band D property will now pay £1,598.65 annually, up from £1,461.52.
The coalition administration's budget proposals were passed during the meeting held on Tuesday.
Other councils, including those in Perth and Kinross, Dundee, and Falkirk, are scheduled to set their council tax increases later this week.
The SNP and a non-aligned opposition group had proposed a lower increase of 8.3%.
Comments from Council Leader
At the meeting, council leader George Meechan stated:
"To continue to provide the services that communities want and expect, we need to set the council tax that will provide the revenue required.
Angus council tax remains one of the lowest in Scotland.
Had (it) matched the Scottish average from 1997 to 2025, we would have accrued an additional cumulative income of £108m.
This is roughly the equivalent to the savings we've been forced to make in the last 13 years."
Budget Details and Financial Strategy
The administration's budget includes £10.9 million from uncommitted reserves.
However, Meechan emphasized fiscal responsibility, stating:
"We will only draw from reserves where it's responsible, sustainable and in the public interest."
The approved budget allocates an additional £750,000 to the council's public infrastructure fund, which the administration says will enable £1.6 million in extra borrowing capacity.
Furthermore, the budget provides £500,000 to support modern graduate apprenticeships and traineeships in Angus, alongside another £500,000 dedicated to complex care transitions for children moving into adulthood.
