Residents react to plans to increase Salisbury City Council tax

Salisbury City Council shared its draft budget for 2024/25 with residents at The Guildhall on Monday, December 4. 

The draft comes after a budget consultation process which took place during August and September.

Councillor Victoria Charleston told the meeting that the precept could rise by up to 75p per week for Band D households next year. 

READ MORE: 'I’m obviously disappointed': Very few people turn up for council budget consultation

Ali Kelly (left) and Ben Impey (right) shared their views on the city council precept rise with the Salisbury Journal. (Image: Joshua Truksa/Newsquest)

If the draft budget is approved, it means that those who pay Band D council tax may have to pay £374, a rise of just over 11 per cent of the current charge of £335 per year.

Caroline Westhead, 47, who has also lived in Salisbury for 30 years, said the amount of the precept rise is not her main concern about the city council.

Caroline said: “I don’t mind £39 a year because I think that sustainability-wise everything is going up and our costs are going to go up, but I just think they should be a little bit more accountable for some of the poor decisions that they have made.

“I think Salisbury’s a great city. I’m really proud of it. The recycling facility has improved, the water facility has improved and when in town cycle paths in general are better.”

Ben Impey, 45, who has lived in Salisbury for 16 years, said he was understanding that prices for everything were rising, including costs incurred by the city council.

Ben said: “I’m just so used to everything going up. It’s inevitable. Everything goes up, it never goes down, so I can only imagine council tax is going to go up anyway, so £39 is not particularly a surprise.”

Ali Kelly, 48, who has lived in Salisbury for 30 years, said she believes the city council and Wiltshire Council should put more effort into saving money.

SEE ALSO: Greggs confirms it will be moving to a larger location in Old George Mall

Ali said: “I don’t know how it’s not controlled. Like the whole one-way system that they did [People Friendly Streets] that lasted two weeks. How many thousands of pounds was lost?

“If maybe they just gave something back to the community or they could reduce everybody’s council tax in Salisbury.

“They haven’t even got the Christmas Market.”

Cllr Charleston told the Journal the city council’s total expenditures for the 2024/2025 year are expected to be slightly more than £7.5m, compared to a budget of just under £7m in the preceding year.

Cllr Charleston said: “It is absolutely our priority to keep the precept as low as possible for our residents whilst delivering the services that they want, and that is the balance that we’ve got to do and that’s the tension the councillors are struggling with at all times.”