Council Tax Letter to the Local Government Chronicle
October 31, 2003 12:00 PM
The Editor
The Local Government Chronicle
Friday 31st October 2003
Dear Sir
Your readers may be interested to know that in a survey by Kent's largest local newspaper, 80% of readers said they oppose Sir Sandy Bruce-Lockhart's pensioner's rebate.
This is not because of a lack of sympathy for poorer pensioners, but because most people understand it would not solve the problems.
Council Tax is unfair, because it is not based on income.
Council Tax is too high because all Governments since Mrs Thatcher have withdrawn money from local Councils and deliberately forced Council Tax up - the famous "Red Books" of Government budgets show this openly.
Council Tax is wrong in principle because poorer people pay a greater part of their income than richer people.
Council Tax is four times more expensive than income tax to collect, and the benefit system is degrading.
Kent's proposed rebate system solves none of these problems. In fact, poorer families end up paying more, whilst rich pensioners get a rebate. For this reason, Kent Conservatives have already conceded their proposal is only a quick fix which cannot be sustained.
The only fair solution is to replace Council Tax with a system based on income. But Kent Tories told Government only last month that: "Council Tax should stay". So they are not interested in long term fairness - just a quick fix gimmick that will nicely be in place for their supporters by the 2005 County Council Elections
Yours faithfully
Trudy Dean
Leader, Liberal Democrat Group