Welshpool council tax slice set to rise by 10%

Welshpool council tax payers will find out tonight how much extra they are expected to pay to ensure that the Town Council can deliver its services for the next financial year.

While discussions have been held largely behind closed doors when it has come to budget setting, paperwork released ahead of tonight’s monthly full council meeting shows there could be a hefty rise.

At a Finance Committee meeting on Wednesday, January 22, councillors agreed in private session, which excludes the public and press, that the precept should be set at £804,000, up from last year’s figure of £731,075.

This represents a rise of around 9.97% per household. The final decision will be made by all councillors tonight.

It means that an average Band D property, which currently pays £260.41, will see that increase by around £26 a year.

This will be added to the near 9% increases to Council Tax which is being added by Powys County Council and Dyfed-Powys Police.

For the 2024/25 financial year, there were approximately 2,807 properties in the Welshpool area, with most, 33%, categorised as Band C.

Last year, Welshpool Town Council set a below inflation increase of around 3.9% to their town council precept.

Tonight’s meeting will start at 7.15pm in the Town Hall and it is open for the public to attend.