COUNCIL tax will rise after a police precept increase of 3.8% was backed.
West Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel members yesterday approved the rise on the guarantee the additional funding is put into frontline policing.
It means an extra 1p a day per household for all taxpayers towards West Yorkshire Police costs.
The Examiner revealed earlier this week that rises in council tax of 1.7%, parish precepts and the proposed fire service rise will mean an overall 2.5% rise in Kirklees households’ tax bill.
For band A households that means an extra £22.88 a year.
West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), Mark Burns-Williamson pledged to invest the £1.4m into the recruitment of 44 new police officers across the force area and to continue to protect frontline policing.
Chairman of the police and crime panel Clr Peter Box said: “After a lengthy discussion with the commissioner we felt confident the public will benefit from their investment and that frontline policing will be strengthened in each of the districts.”
The panel backed the rise and has asked the PCC to look to reduce the overall cost of his office so it faces the same level of reductions as the force.
Mark Burns-Williamson, said: “Although I had the option of accepting a grant from the Government to freeze the precept for a year I chose not to do that as I would have had to make up the shortfall next year.”
