Trafford residents face 7.5% council tax hike

Council tax in Trafford is set to be rise by 7.49% after it was approved by the government.

Trafford Council was given the go-ahead to raise the tax above the usual 4.99% ceiling because it is facing a £12m hole in its budget for 2025/26.

The authority, which said it had seen £300m cut from its budget over the last 14 years, had appealed for "exceptional financial support".

Councillors in the controlling Labour group argue that even with the proposed increase, Trafford's council tax level at the Band D average would still be the second lowest in Greater Manchester.

Council tax makes up 60% of the income to fund the authority's services.

Council leader Tom Ross told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "We understand the financial pressures that many of our residents are facing and we have not made the decision to seek to increase council tax lightly.

"However, we have no option if we are to get the council on a firmer financial footing, ensure we have a plan to rebuild our finances and to address the structural financial deficit."

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