Ceredigion residents will pay seven per cent more in council tax from April after councillors approved the tax hike on Thursday.

The latest increase will bring the total rise in council tax for residents to 39 per cent in the last six years.

Ceredigion council leader Ellen ap Gwynn said there was “no option” but to raise the tax, and said that two per cent of the increase would be used to protect school budgets.

Only seven councillors voted against the rise at a council meeting on Thursday, including leader of the Liberal Democrat opposition, Cllr Ceredig Davies.

Cllr Davies told the meeting: “Council tax Band D in 2013 was £942. The £1,312 being recommended today equates to Ceredigion council tax-payers now having to pay 39 per cent more than what they did six years ago for what in their mind is far less services.

“Originally the recommendation was for five per cent, but due to the financial difficulties that our schools find themselves in we have been asked to increase that by a further two per cent with the additional money to be ring-fenced for the schools.

“I can practically guarantee that every councillor here has in the last few weeks been challenged over the proposed seven per cent increase.

“Ceredigion residents, whether they be employed, self-employed or retired, have not seen an increase in the personal finances of anywhere close to seven per cent in the last year and as a consequence many people will suffer in having to find the additional money.”

Cllr Davies said the rise will have a “financial consequence” on all Ceredigion residents.

Cllr ap Gwynn said: “We had no option but to ask council to increase council tax by seven per cent in order to reduce the impact of the cuts we have had to make across council budgets.

“A successful Ceredigion in the future needs well-funded and well-run schools. We want to invest in the future of our children and our county.

“The reality is that the council is getting less money from the Welsh Government at a time when costs and demand for services continue to rise.

“The uplift of teachers’ salaries and pensions has not been fully funded by Welsh Government to date.

“If council tax had not increased, we would have to make deeper cuts.”

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