SALMOND HAILS SNP COUNCIL TAX FREEZE SAVINGS

SNP Gordon MSP Alex Salmond has highlighted the savings that householders have made since the SNP came to power and froze council tax.  The average Band D home in Aberdeenshire has saved £229 since 2007/8 thanks to the council tax freeze.

Council tax for a Band D home in Aberdeenshire would have been £1255 this year had the Scottish Government not made the resources available for Aberdeenshire Council to implement the freeze and keep it at £1,141.  It has stopped council tax bills rising in Aberdeenshire by 10% since 2007/8.

Mr Salmond said:

“The SNP were elected with the Council Tax freeze as a central part of our manifesto.

“We recognised that this tax is an unfair burden to many people who were struggling to keep up with their increasing bills. And with Labour’s mismanagement of the economy sending Scotland into recession, the council tax freeze could not have come at a better time.

“A Band D household will have saved £229 over the past three years, keeping more money in the pockets of hard working families. 

“The next financial settlement will be difficult as we wait to see how the Lib Dem and Tory cuts bite. From the SNP's point of view, if it is possible to keep council tax down, then it should be kept down.”