Taxpayers have rallied against a council consultation exercise, claiming town chiefs are manipulating figures, failing to provide value for money and confusing the public.
More than 1,000 residents have already responded to an invitation in last week's special edition of Southend Council's Civic News to have their say on this year's council tax increases.
Residents were asked if they would prefer a cut in services or a 22 per cent increase in tax, meaning an extra £177 a year for the average householder.
Businessman Adrian Hopkins said: "If I told my customers I was going to put my prices up or give them less value for money, they'd laugh at me. I'd go out of business."
The 47-year-old resident of Hobleythick Lane, Westcliff, runs a small company specialising in industrial soundproofing.
He said: "The council should operate more like a business and work around its funding problems. I don't think they're aware of rate payers' feelings."
Retired Dave Hitchman, 68, of Selwyn Road, Southend, has an understanding of council finances but could not work out where all the money was going.
Council chief executive George Krawiec declined to comment on the responses but maintained the consultation was necessary in the light of a massive budget deficit.
Published Thursday January 15, 2004
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