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Scottish government to outline council tax reform plans | Scottish government to outline council tax reform plans |
(about 9 hours later) | |
The Scottish government is to outline its proposals for reforming the council tax system. | |
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said her party would make local taxes more "progressive" from April 2017 if the SNP was voted back into power in May. | |
An independent commission reported in December that the current system was in need of reform. | |
At the moment, Scotland's 32 councils typically raise 15p of every pound they spend from council tax. | |
The cross-party Commission on Local Tax Reform concluded that any new system should continue to be one of "general tax" rather than a "system of charges for specific services". | The cross-party Commission on Local Tax Reform concluded that any new system should continue to be one of "general tax" rather than a "system of charges for specific services". |
It suggested three options: | |
Ms Sturgeon, who will make public her approach later, is also expected to propose incentives for councils to boost economic growth by assigning them a share of income tax revenues. | |
She said: "Over nine years, the council tax freeze put in place by this government has helped to keep bills affordable during difficult economic times while ensuring councils are properly funded to provide public services. | |
"When I established the cross-party Commission on Local Tax Reform in 2015, I wanted to ensure that our commitment to fully understand the impact of taxation on Scottish communities was fulfilled." | "When I established the cross-party Commission on Local Tax Reform in 2015, I wanted to ensure that our commitment to fully understand the impact of taxation on Scottish communities was fulfilled." |
'Time to deliver' | 'Time to deliver' |
Ms Sturgeon added that her plans would "build on the findings" of the commission's report. | Ms Sturgeon added that her plans would "build on the findings" of the commission's report. |
A Scottish Labour spokesman said that the SNP had said for a decade that it would replace the council tax with "something fairer". | |
He added: "Nicola Sturgeon now has to deliver on her personal promise, otherwise all her talk will be exposed as just posturing." | He added: "Nicola Sturgeon now has to deliver on her personal promise, otherwise all her talk will be exposed as just posturing." |