Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Local authority leaders renewed warnings of service cuts today as a survey confirmed council tax bills are set to rise by around four per cent.
Research by public accountancy institute Cipfa found the average Band D home would face a £52 a year increase to £1,370.
It said the 3.9 per cent figure, revealed in the survey carried out for The Times and BBC Radio 4's Today programme, was the lowest for 14 years.
But the Local Government Association said it had only been kept that low through "difficult decisions" over services and demanded a funding reform to recognise modern budget pressures.
Chairman Sir Simon Milton said: "It is a testament to the determination of councils that the average rise is likely to be close to the rate of inflation.
"Keeping council tax down has been made harder by several government departments shifting extra costs on to councils whilst limiting funding from central government to a real terms 1% increase.
"Council tax would have been a lot lower with a more realistic central government grant.
"The toughest financial settlement in a decade has left councils with difficult decisions to make locally."
Ministers have threatened to use capping powers against councils imposing "excessive" rises over the Government's per cent ceiling and insist town halls were given a "fair and affordable" financial settlement.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments