COUNCILLORS from North Yorkshire County Council are set to make tough choices in the coming weeks as they decide on the authority's budget for the year ahead, including setting the level of council tax.

Residents have been reminded that there is still time to make their voices heard and have been encouraged to take part in the County Council's consultation to have a say on its budget, ambitions and priorities.

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Councillor Gareth Dadd, deputy leader and executive member for finance, said the council is responding to "increased pressures that the pandemic has placed" on communities.

He said: "These continue to be turbulent times. We are responding to increased pressures that the pandemic has placed on our communities and the county’s economy.

"At the same time, long-term challenges grow, for example the massive pressures in social care. This means we face further tough choices as we budget for the future.”

The council has reportedly been consulting the public about its budget, including council tax for next year.

The consultation is set to close on Monday January 17, so residents who have not yet taken part are being urged to have their say now.

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Under Government rules, the authority can raise council tax by up to 1.99 per cent from April, plus up to a further 2.49 per cent for the adult social care precept.

County Council leader Carl Les, said: "Increasing council tax is never an easy option. We have always striven to be moderate in our increases."

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