RESIDENTS in Gwynedd could find themselves facing a 5.5 per cent council tax rise as the authority battles to make up a £13m financial shortfall.

The Audit Committee will debate the proposed budget for 2019/20 today (Thursday), with officers admitting that “difficult decisions” have had to be made between balancing council tax bills and cutting services following another reduction of 0.2 per cent in central government contributions.

According to decision makers, who will require full council ratification before the budget is implemented, a 5.5 per cent rise is needed to protect services as implementing some of the proposed cuts “would have been unacceptable due to the effect on the people of Gwynedd”.

The council anticipates it will be able to realise saving measures which are already in the pipeline to close the gap from £13m to £6.8m, but further cuts and a council tax rise will also be needed to make up the remaining shortfall.

For an average Band D household, this would mean a weekly increase of £1.37, or £71.53 a year, resulting in an annual bill of £1,372.06.

The ‘back office’ efficiencies include reducing administrative overheads as well as some currently vacant posts not being filled, with officers hopeful that these steps “won’t have a negative impact on the people of Gwynedd”.

However, ratepayers have also been warned to expect further cuts over the years to come unless more money is forthcoming from Cardiff Bay, with the authority also hit by inflation and the UK Government’s decision to increase the employers’ teacher pension contributions.

Dipping into the authority’s £6m of reserves has been ruled out, however, with officers feeling it should be kept back for potential cash flow issues or emergency scenarios.

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