Gil Paterson MSP encourages householders to make use of Council Tax Reduction scheme

MSP Gil Paterson is appealing to constituents to make use of the scheme to reduce council tax payments as the higher rates are set to increase.
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Householders in bands E to H will face a higher rate in West Dunbartonshire whereas the lower rates will remain frozen.

In East Dunbartonshire, the standard rate is also set to increase for all households across the local authority area.

Home owners and tenants earning less than £25,000 can apply for the Council Tax Reduction via local authority websites.

Mr Paterson said: “After 10 years of keeping the council tax frozen, now the time has come where the public will have to contribute a little more to ensure the upkeep of vital frontline public services, like bin collection, schooling and our roads.

“Scotland is still the lowest taxed country in the UK – and the one with the best public services and advantages like free education, prescriptions, bus passes for the elderly, care for the elderly, childcare and more.

“However, this is not to say I do not understand and sympathise with the situation some face about having financial difficulties to afford the increase in their council tax contribution to our services.

“All residents are eligible for a reduction in their council tax bill – this is a system the SNP government unrolled after the Tory government scrapped the UK-wide one. It is a service that has been under-utilized, particularly among pensioners.”

ENDS
Apply for the CTR:

• West Dunbartonshire: http://www.west-dunbarton.gov.uk/benefits-and-grants/council-tax-reduction/apply-for-a-council-tax-reduction/
• East Dunbartonshire: https://www.eastdunbarton.gov.uk/residents/council-tax/discounts-and-reductions