Town councillors have been warned that Machynlleth taxpayers will not accept a large rise in the town council’s precept demand next year, following an increase of almost 19 per cent last year.

The town council came under fire from former mayor Gareth Jones last year after they announced that staff pay rises, the need for a contingency fund and replacement IT equipment meant the authority had little option but to impose an inflation-busting increase.

However, town councillors have admitted that they cannot look to impose a similar precept increase for 2019/20, despite warnings that the authority’s budget will be “very tight indeed”.

Cllr Michael Williams said the town council had to closely consider the precept increase and what it would mean for the council’s budget.

But he said the increase would need to be lower than that imposed last year.

“We cannot possibly be having an increase in council tax as we have for the last two years,” he said.

“I’m not criticising the increase of the last two years as it was much needed, but I don’t think the council taxpayers of Machynlleth will be happy with a similar increase.”

Town council clerk Jim Griffiths said the council would need to explain to taxpayers what any precept increase would be used for.

He said: “Unless the public accept why you want to increase the precept and accept it in good heart, people will not accept an increase like you’ve seen in the last two years.”

Cllr Rhydian Mason said as well as explaining what the town council would use the money for, he thought it was important for the council to explain how much, in money terms, any increase would be.

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