Council tax bills may jump nearly 5 percent

South Gloucestershire Council is consulting the public on a budget that includes a proposed 4.99 percent rise in council tax for next April. This increase would be the maximum allowed by the government without requiring a local referendum. The additional revenue is intended to cover rising costs, particularly in the social care sector.

The budget proposal also includes plans to review operating hours at household waste and recycling centers. It outlines changes to street cleaning and other service areas. While the council tax portion funds general services, residents’ bills also include precepts for the police commissioner, fire service, and parish councils.

Assuming these other charges also rise, the annual total for a Band B home, the most common in the district, would average £2,052.40. This amount can be paid as 12 monthly installments of £171.03 or 10 monthly installments of £205.24. Approximately 37,000 homes in the district, or 29 percent of total properties, fall into this band.

The actual bill varies by location because parish and town councils charge different precept rates. Urban areas like Filton and Yate tend to have higher charges than rural locations such as Aust or Rockhampton. For a Band B home in Tortworth, the total annual cost would be £1,965.10. In Filton, the same band carries a total annual cost of £2,233.86.

Residents in higher tax bands would see larger absolute increases. A Band A home would pay an average of £1,759.21 annually, while a Band C home would pay £2,345.62. Band D households face an average bill of £2,638.81, and Band E homes would pay £3,225.22.

Upper band residents would see bills climb further. Band F homes would pay an average of £3,811.61 per year. Band G households would see an average bill of £4,398.02, and Band H homes would pay £5,277.62 annually. These figures represent the combined total of council tax and precepts.

The council is currently seeking public feedback on the budget. No final decision has been made on the tax rate. The proposed figures for April are based on the current maximum allowable increase and projected precept rates.