RESIDENTS are being urged to have their say over potential council tax rises for police and fire services across North Yorkshire.

Emergency services have asked the public to get involved in consultations over whether taxes should be increased by up to 1.99 per cent or be frozen along government guidelines.

Any increase above 1.99 per cent would trigger a referendum, to ask residents their opinions, which would cost up to £700,000.

North Yorkshire Police spend around £140m a year and Fire and Rescue nearly £32m across the county with both services relying on proportions of their income coming through local council taxes.

Fire and Rescue has 38 stations; four manned round the clock, seven crewed, 25 retained and two volunteer stations, costing band D taxpayers around £63.33 last year.

An increase of 1.99 per cent would add £1.26 to the council tax for the service. They have more 300 full time officers with many more retained crews in rural areas.

A spokesman said the Fire Authority will be considering the budget proposals on February 11 and they are keen to find out what people think of the potential increases.

For police services, a 1.99 per cent increase would add £4.15 to the average annual household bill. The service employs 1,392 police officers with 183 PCSOs.

Police and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan said: “These are tough financial times for families, as they are for the police.

"Rather than ask local taxpayers for more money, I am considering freezing the police precept next year.

"The Government has committed to providing money to the areas that don’t put the precept up, which means the police benefit next year without having to put further pressure on family budgets.”

“This goes hand in hand with the predicted £500,000 underspend this year.

"I don’t feel it is right to put taxes up when we have that level of underspend within the organisation whilst we can still receive a top-up from central government. However, this decision would mean it is harder in the future to deliver services, and it is probable that police officer numbers will need to be reduced in future years.”

The police consultation ends on January 12 – visit northyorkshire-pcc.gov.uk/news/police-precept-your-view-is-important

For the Fire and Rescue consulation, which runs until January 30, email CAO.ServiceInformation@northyorksfire.gov.uk