Hampshire's daylight robbery!

10.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Sat 4th Apr 2009

Tory-run Hampshire County Council have more than doubled our Council Tax since 1997 despite the Government's grant increasing by more than inflation

Local Liberal Democrat campaigners say Conservative-run Hampshire County Council has over-charged local residents and is responsible for "daylight robbery".

Since 1997 the Conservatives have increased our Council Tax by 108% - more than DOUBLE.

Inflation of the Council's costs totals 46% since 1997 but the government's grant has increased by 47%.

So where has our money gone?

Some of the money has gone on Council services of course BUT £180 MILLION is just sitting idly in Council bank accounts. Money which people have struggled to pay. Even for a Council the size of Hampshire that is a huge and unnecessarily large amount.

The amount of money in reserves and balances has almost DOUBLED in the past 3 years and Council Tax payers have been hit with 3 above inflation increases.

Although the increase will be lower this year, the Liberal Democrat opposition have put forward a fully costed budget which would increase services AND make NO INCREASE in the County's part of your tax at all!