East Lothian faces a long road ahead to restore public services despite new funding and tax increases
East Lothian: A recent report to councillors highlighted some tough news. Even with an extra £12 million from the government, a 10% council tax hike is still on the table to keep things balanced.
This tax increase means residents will pay about £2.75 more each week, bringing in over £9.4 million for the local council. Plus, there’s a proposed 7% rise in council rents, which would add around £5.75 to tenants’ weekly bills.
While the funding boost sounds good, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. Officials think half of that £12 million will be tied up for specific projects, leaving less for general use.
The budget plan aims for a balanced approach for 2025-26, but it’s clear that more savings will be needed to keep services running smoothly in the future.
Councillor Norman Hampshire, the council leader, acknowledged the extra funds but stressed that it won’t fix everything overnight. He mentioned it could take years to get services back to where they should be.
He also pointed out that every 1% increase in council tax translates to a £700,000 investment in the community. The budget proposal is now open for all political parties to review and submit their ideas by Monday.
After that, the final budget will be agreed upon in a council meeting on February 18. Mr. Hampshire emphasized the importance of continuing to invest in services and hopes for a united front among parties to support the budget for East Lothian.
