Council tax bills in the Braintree district look set to rise by only around half last year's massive hike.

But some jobs are likely to be lost as part of a savings package to keep the figure down.

A whopping rise in council tax last year saw the average bill soar by more than £152.38 to around £1,135.

This year the increase is likely to be around £78 for a middle of the range Band D property - less than half last year's figure, allaying fears of another round of enormous bills.

It follows the county council's announcement this week of a 4.7 per cent rise, compared to last year's 16.7 per cent, thought to be one of the smallest increases in the country.

The county authority takes the lion's share, 85 per cent, of the council tax.Braintree Council has yet to announce its district figure, but the Tory-led administration has pledged to try and hold down the increase at or below last year's 5.9 per cent level.

The council is due to fix the figure at its meeting on February 18 following a raft of cost-cutting proposals to try to stay spending.

Job losses and other cutbacks are in the pipeline in a bid to honour election pledges to keep council tax rises down.

Once police, fire, parish and town council shares are added to the mix the average increase is likely to come in at around £78.

David Finch, Braintree council leader and county council cabinet member for finance, said: ''I am extremely pleased for the citizens of Essex.''He said it had followed a lot of hard work and a ''root and branch'' review of county services.

Labour leader at Braintree Council, David Mann, commented: ''By comparison with the county, Braintree has always been a low tax authority. It's good news that the Tories and Independents now in control intend to honour this tradition."

Published Thursday January 22, 2004

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