council tax do we get value for money
Discussion
sorry if this has been done before . been looking for properties in foreign lands .it seems that we are getting well and truly ripped off unless the tax is paying for alot more in the uk. (which i can,t see ).i live on a rd with 15 houses . between us we are payin aprox 45k ayear .we have 4 street lights ,1 rd sweeper per year .1 weed killer every 2 years and never see a copper .can,t see that it costes that much per year . i no that we pay towards rural areas.but so do the other couties ive been look at buying property in. i don,t mind paying for a service but it just seems that we are not getting value for money .your thoughts please
Happy82 said:
Does council tax go towards education, sports centres etc too? ie things that we may not use but still need to be funded?
Can see an exmaple herehttp://www.manchester.gov.uk/info/200028/council_t...
Mojooo said:
This is true. Sadly the good stuff is let down by this sort of money wasting http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/8332107/W...eldar said:
Mojooo said:
This is true. Sadly the good stuff is let down by this sort of money wasting http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/8332107/W...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edinburgh_Trams
But yeah- a lot of things, like Carnegie Libraries or parkland were donated freely to the people, on the condition that they in turn funded the maintainence (though I'm sure in Carnegie's case, councils were required to pay towards construction, too. worked well in any case.)
Most people don't realise what is actually paid for by council tax because everyone thinks of services they are using at this point in time and not beyond. Council tax also includes money for fire and police but the council bit goes on things like -
emptying bins
recycling
street lighting
street cleaning
parks
security for those parks and security assistance to police
libraries
local roads
etc etc but all of that only makes up a small proportion of council budget as the majority of council money (probably as much as 80%) is spent on 3 things you only use at a certain time in your life or may never use -
Schools
Child protection
Adult social care
the cost of child protection and adult social care is huge
emptying bins
recycling
street lighting
street cleaning
parks
security for those parks and security assistance to police
libraries
local roads
etc etc but all of that only makes up a small proportion of council budget as the majority of council money (probably as much as 80%) is spent on 3 things you only use at a certain time in your life or may never use -
Schools
Child protection
Adult social care
the cost of child protection and adult social care is huge
NDA said:
I pay over £3k a year in Council Tax - I can't think of any services I use, other than the infrequent rubbish collection.
Mind you, there are several executives at the council on over £200k a year, so at least I know the money is being spent well.
I read i nthe paper that the boss of Hampshire County Cuncil got around 240k in pay and benefits last yearMind you, there are several executives at the council on over £200k a year, so at least I know the money is being spent well.
That said, he is responsible for over 30,000 staff and over 1.2m residents.
I would probably want at least 150k for doing it and I bet there are many many people on here that wouldnt do it for less than 240k.
fbrs said:
dont move to the US then. property taxes will make you cry. 10x what you pay in nice neighbourhoods
And also very little property tax in areas! each state varies in price and also the amount rises and falls with property price,unlike here where it is fixed at x amount even if your house is worth less.Edited by fbrs on Friday 9th September 21:39
sharpfocus said:
£45k from 15 houses?
Well, with a roadsweeper and weedkiller you're doing better than we are, but unless the street gets a free Lotus every year then no, you're probably not getting anything like value for money.
Read my post above. if anyone unfortunately ends up not being able to care for themselves then 45k is buttons and if a child is in danger and needs to be rescued 45k is buttons too. Well, with a roadsweeper and weedkiller you're doing better than we are, but unless the street gets a free Lotus every year then no, you're probably not getting anything like value for money.
People who think council tax is too much need to really think about what councils have to deal with and the cost of it. Just because you are not using certain services at present does not mean you shouldn't pay for them to exist. Would people really want to live in a society where kids are killed by their parents and adults with care needs are left to die on the streets?
As for CEO pay compare it with CEO pay in the private sector and compare the responsibilities they have. Comparisons with the PM pay is wrong too. The PM does not get paid enough not others being paid too much.
It always trikes me as funny how many people when they think about money are very selfish and self centred yet when they need something like the NHS or social care or anything along those lines bleat on about the fact they should be free and top quality. Cant have it both ways
I did.
The fact that others in social care are getting value for money doesn't mean the OP is. Of course, neither does it mean it isn't worth paying and neither does it mean there isn't a huge amount of waste. I doubt adult social care reflects the bulk of what £45k a year goes on from just 15 houses.
The fact that others in social care are getting value for money doesn't mean the OP is. Of course, neither does it mean it isn't worth paying and neither does it mean there isn't a huge amount of waste. I doubt adult social care reflects the bulk of what £45k a year goes on from just 15 houses.
sharpfocus said:
I did.
The fact that others in social care are getting value for money doesn't mean the OP is. Of course, neither does it mean it isn't worth paying and neither does it mean there isn't a huge amount of waste. I doubt adult social care reflects the bulk of what £45k a year goes on from just 15 houses.
If you doubt the proportions check our your council website that will list what is spent in what areas. I am not saying councils are perfect, some are better managed than others and some more efficient. I think there should be less of them especially in London and there should be efficiencies year on year. Having said that council tax is a much cheaper method for many than a local income tax where i am sure houses paying 3k a year each would be stung much worse.The fact that others in social care are getting value for money doesn't mean the OP is. Of course, neither does it mean it isn't worth paying and neither does it mean there isn't a huge amount of waste. I doubt adult social care reflects the bulk of what £45k a year goes on from just 15 houses.
I think to create VFM in residents eyes councils should make services optional and you pay based on your choices. Unfortunately in the real world that would cause chaos with people being left to die because they didn't pay for certain things.
Bottom line is people always feel that they never get value for money from public services until they have to use them and that comes from someone who lives on a private estate where I pay more than 3k a year but I don't even get my street lighting paid for or roads gritted or maintained amongst other things as that is covered by my estate charge BUT i don't get a rebate in my council tax against those that do benefit from those services. Do I mind? not a bit. I can afford to look after myself and know my tax is going towards those that can't. What needs to be sorted is a proper system to identify those who should benefit as it is those taking the piss and taking my money that I resent.
sharpfocus said:
I did.
The fact that others in social care are getting value for money doesn't mean the OP is. Of course, neither does it mean it isn't worth paying and neither does it mean there isn't a huge amount of waste. I doubt adult social care reflects the bulk of what £45k a year goes on from just 15 houses.
25% of it goes to pay Town Hall pensions.The fact that others in social care are getting value for money doesn't mean the OP is. Of course, neither does it mean it isn't worth paying and neither does it mean there isn't a huge amount of waste. I doubt adult social care reflects the bulk of what £45k a year goes on from just 15 houses.
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