LAST week saw councillors reluctantly agree to raise council tax in Halton, after a bleak budget report revealed the cash-strapped authority face a £21.3m deficit over the next three years.

Halton has the lowest tax base in the Liverpool City Region, meaning the council make far less money through this charge than wealthier areas.

Members agreed to hike up tax by 2.99% – the maximum allowed by the government.

Deputy Leader Mike Wharton said that while this may place an “additional burden” on residents, failing to do so would leave the hard-hit council forced to find a further £1.4m worth of savings.

But while increasing council tax rates might only make a small dent in Halton Council’s huge budget gap, it represents a significant change to what residents will have to pay per year.

That’s because as well as council tax, residents have to contribute towards local fire services, the police and, for the first time ever, the Metro Mayor’s Office.

Some people in Halton also pay a precept towards their parish council, meaning your council tax rate depends not only on your property band, but also what part of the borough you live in.

The Parish precept ranges from £65.49 per year, for residents living in leafy Hale Village, to £26.78, for those living in Sandymoor. It is spent by parish councils directly on that community.

Here’s the total amount people in each council tax band will have to pay in each area of Halton: HALE:

Band A – £1,187.84

Band B – £1,385.81

Band C – £1,583.77

Band D – £1,781.75

Band E- £2,177.69

Band F- £2,573.63

Band G- £2,969.59

Band H –  £3,569.74

Daresbury

Band A – £1,163.20 1

Band B – £1,357.06

Band C – £1,550.92

Band D – £1,744.79

Band E – £2,132.52

Band F – £2,520.24

Band G – £2,907.99

Band H – £3,489.58

Moore

Band A – £1,153.81

Band B -£1,346.10

Band C – £1,538.40

Band D – £1,730.70

Band E – £2,115.30

Band F -£2,499.89

Band G – 2,884.51

Band H – 3,461.40

Preston Brook

Band A – £1,166.07

Band B – £1,360.41

Band C – £1,554.75

Band D – £1,749.10

Band E – £2,137.79

Band F – £2,526.47

Band G – £2,915.17

Band H – £3,498.20

Halebank

Band A – £1,170.67

Band B – £1,365.78

Band C – £1,560.88

Band D -£1,756.00

Band E – £2,146.22

Band F – £2,536.43

Band G – £2,926.67

Band H – £3,512.00

Sandymoor 

Band A – £1,162.03

Band B – £1,355.70

Band C – £1,549.36

Band D – £1,783.04

Band E – £2,130.38

Band F – £2,517.71

Band G – £2,905.07

Band H – £3,486.08

All other parts of the council’s areas:

Band A – £1,144.18

Band B – £1,334.87

Band C – £1,525.56

Band D – £1,716.26

Band E – £2,097.65

Band F – £2,479.03

Band G- £2,860.44

Band H – £3,432.52  

68% of properties in Halton are in the lowest council tax bands A and B.

That means most people will see an increase in council tax of £27.46 a month  (or 53p per week) for Band A, or  £32.05 per month ( 62p per week) for Band B.

Contributions towards Cheshire Fire Service ranges from £51,83 for Band A properties, to £155.48 per year for Band H properties.

Contributions towards Cheshire Police are significantly higher, ranging from a precept of £133.63 for Band A properties to £400.88 for Band B properties.

Contributions towards the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority amount to £12.67 for Band A properties, going up to £38.00 for Band H homes.