Council Tax Increase for Devon

Devon County Council has finalised it's budget for the coming year with a 1.98% increase in council tax.

That works out as  £21 increase for a Band D home. The increase is one of the lowest ever.

Within the budget is more money for vulnerable children and our highways.

But with a massive reduction in Government funding predicted for next year, Leader of Devon County Council John Hart says they have tried to prepare, "we're talking a 10 - 20% cut year on year for the next three years. That is dramatic. We've had budgets on a growing economy, we're now going to have budgets on what is a shrinking economy."

He added, "we've kept council tax as low as possible, we've invested where we can but we're also in the process of reshaping this council to weather the storm which is definitely coming through lack of funding."

To listen to Heart's interview with John Hart CLICK HERE