INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS: COUNCIL TAX FREEZE “OVER-FUNDED” BY SNP
The SNP has highlighted updated analysis from the independent Scottish Parliament Information Centre which has again confirmed that the SNP government has fully funded the Council Tax freeze since 2008-09.
The new analysis finds that “on the basis that the freeze was intended to compensate for a foregone per annum increase in Council Tax it could be said that the freeze, over the period 2008-09 to 2014-15 was ‘over-funded’”. SPICe has estimated that this has resulted in an additional £180 million going to local government since the freeze was introduced.
Commenting, SNP MSP Kevin Stewart said:
“This updated analysis has again exposed the bogus claims consistently made by Labour politicians since 2008 about the Council Tax freeze – not only has it been fully funded but £180 million extra has gone to local authorities as a result of the policy.
“Not only has more money gone to local authorities as a result of the freeze, which has now been in place for nine consecutive years, but the average band D household has saved more than £1,500.
“The Scottish Government has also set out a progressive plan to make Council Tax fairer – now that Labour’s Council Tax freeze claims are bust maybe now would be a good time for them to finally set out how they would reform local taxation.”
The SPICe analysis is available here: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/97405.aspx