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Councils begin setting tax rates Tax decision time for authorities
(about 1 hour later)
Residents across Scotland could be facing the lowest average council tax increase since the creation of the Scottish Parliament, analysts believe. Local authorities have been setting their council tax levels, with early indications of a lower than average increase across Scotland.
Local authorities have begun setting their bills as a series of meetings take place across the country. South Ayrshire has agreed the highest rise so far, an increase of 3.9%.
The average rise last year was 3.2%, but a figure of 2.5% is expected and that would mean the tax on an average Band D property would increase by £28. Glasgow City Council said it intended to freeze levels for the second year running, although it still has the highest Band D council tax in Scotland.
One of the biggest rises could be in Moray, which has agreed a 3.6% rise. Analysts said the average increase could be lowest since the council tax was introduced in 1993.
That will see band D bills rise to £1,135. The average rise last year was 3.2%, but a figure of 2.5% is expected this year. That would mean the tax on an average Band D property would increase by £28.
Orkney has agreed a 3% increase, which will see band D bills rise to £1,037. Home owners
Setting rates One of the highest rises was in Moray, where a 3.6% increase translates into an annual bill of £1,135 for Band D properties.
Dumfries and Galloway has also approved a 3% rise, giving a band D bill of £1,049. Orkney has agreed an increase of 3% - a charge of £1,037 for Band D home owners - while bills in Shetland will rise by 3.5% to £1,053 at Band D.
Aberdeenshire Council agreed a 2.5% rise, taking band D costs to £1,141. In Edinburgh, a rise of 1.5% means an increase of £1,169 at Band D, while in Renfrewshire there has been a 1.9% increase, meaning bills of £1,126.
Glasgow City Council has announced a freeze for the second year running. However, the city still has the highest Band D council tax in Scotland. Highland Council's increase has been set at 2.5% (£1,163), with Falkirk's increase of 2.4% resulting in a Band D charge of £1,070.
On Wednesday, Falkirk Council agreed a council tax rise of 2.4% for 2007-08. Dumfries and Galloway has also approved a 3% rise, giving a Band D bill of £1,049.
The move means Band D council tax will be set at £1,070 for the coming year, an increase of £25. A spokesman for the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla) said: "We are on course for the lowest rises in council tax since 1993."
Highland Council agreed a 2.5% increase, which will gave a band D figure of £1,163.
A rise of 1.9% in Renfrewshire Council will see band D bills increase to £1,165 a year, while a 1.5% increase in Edinburgh will mean band D bills of £1,169.