Essex County Council today revealed a council tax increase of less than five per cent.
The 4.7 per cent rise - still higher than the rate of inflation at just over one per cent - is the lowest since council tax was created in 1994 and compares to a hefty increase of more than 16 per cent last year.
The county council runs major services like education and social services.
Some district councils, individual villages and the Essex police and fire authorities have yet to release their council tax increases to make up the final bill.
Rayleigh South county councillor Mavis Webster said: "Managing to keep it so low is the result of a lot of hard work. We have been looking at every thing we can to keep the council tax as low as possible. But we are conscious of having to do better for less with an ageing population."
Priority for schools, community care and cutting congestion are at the heart of the budget revealed today, county council leader Lord Hanningfield said.
He said: "This has meant some difficult decisions with very tight budgeting and setting new priorities for council spending.
"Over the past year we have consulted the people of Essex to make sure that their priorities for council services are reflected in those set by the council."
Published Tuesday January 20, 2004
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