Years of council tax rises to come, leader warns
BBCResidents in Surrey have been warned council tax rises are likely to continue for at least the next three years.
Conservative leader Tim Oliver said there was "nothing we can do other than look to residents" because of the government's funding plans for local authorities.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has been approached for a comment.
Oliver told BBC Radio Surrey the provisional funding settlement announced in December means the council will lose £180m over three years.
He said 77% of the council's funding currently comes from council tax, but by 2028 that figure is set to rise to 92%, with the money received from the government "almost negligible."
"Every year our costs go up, the demand goes up and the cost of delivery goes up," he said.
"Without any additional funding, I'm afraid there is nothing we can do other than to look to residents to fund that."
He said the council would continue to lobby ministers and while they had not yet received the final number - he was not expecting it to change.
He wanted to "warn" residents that that government funding formulas assume council tax increases of 4.99% annually over the next three years.
At the High Street market in Staines Upon Thames, residents were unhappy about the idea of a council tax rise.
One woman said it was "absolutely disgusting."
Candy, who runs the Heavenly Manor stall, said they had noticed that people were not spending as much as they used to.
"It's because people are having to pay out so much on bills all the time. They haven't got the money for luxuries."
Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.
