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Scottish Borders Council meets to set council tax and budget Scottish Borders Council agrees 3% tax increase
(about 17 hours later)
Scottish Borders Council is to meet to agree its budget and tax rate for the next financial year. Scottish Borders Council has approved a 3% increase in council tax for the region.
The Conservative/independent ruling coalition wants to increase council tax by 3% and remove 35 full-time posts from the payroll. The Conservative/independent ruling coalition's plans will also see the removal of 35 full-time posts from the payroll.
Its budget would also see £22m invested in the region's roads and bridges over the next three years. Its budget will also see £22m invested in the region's roads and bridges over the next three years.
Opposition SNP and Lib Dem councillors have also proposed a 3% tax rise but with different spending priorities. Opposition SNP and Lib Dem plans for a 3% tax rise - but with different spending priorities - were voted down.
Council leader Shona Haslam said the budget would "improve the lives of Borderers".Council leader Shona Haslam said the budget would "improve the lives of Borderers".
A £4.8m specialist dementia residential facility and £2m towards re-opening Reston station are among the administration's plans. A £4.8m specialist dementia residential facility and £2m towards reopening Reston station are also among the administration's plans.
Ms Haslam said the tax increase would be only the second in 10 years during which time funding had reduced and demand for services had risen.Ms Haslam said the tax increase would be only the second in 10 years during which time funding had reduced and demand for services had risen.
The administration said it hoped to avoid any compulsory redundancies.The administration said it hoped to avoid any compulsory redundancies.
The SNP and Liberal Democrat opposition has offered a joint alternative budget. The SNP and Liberal Democrat opposition had offered a joint alternative budget.
It said it would dedicate another £16m "to keep the school building programme on track" - funding another two new high schools.It said it would dedicate another £16m "to keep the school building programme on track" - funding another two new high schools.
It would also spend another £2m on roads, and set up a £1.2m "fairness fund" to tackle poverty and isolation. It would also have spent another £2m on roads, and set up a £1.2m "fairness fund" to tackle poverty and isolation.
Those plans were defeated with the local authority approving the administration's proposals.
Last year the Scottish government ended its long-running council tax freeze, allowing local authorities to raise the basic rate by a maximum of 3%.Last year the Scottish government ended its long-running council tax freeze, allowing local authorities to raise the basic rate by a maximum of 3%.