Reform: 3.99% hike shows commitment to keeping rises as low as possible

Opposition warns tax rise will create financial problems in future years

- Phil Corrigan

REFORM UK leaders at Staffordshire County Council say a proposed 3.99 per cent tax hike shows their commitment to keeping charges 'as low as possible'.

The planned council tax increase for 2026/27 is below the 4.99 per cent maximum authorities can impose without a referendum.

In recent years, Staffordshire and most other English councils have gone right up to the limit.

The 3.99 per cent rise will see Band D households in Staffordshire pay £1,686.42 to the county council, an increase of £64.71. Reform UK took control of the county council last May, promising efficiency savings and to keep council tax low.

Councillor Chris Large, cabinet member for finance and resources, says the party’s first budget shows it is starting to achieve these aims.

But Conservative opposition councillors claim Reform voters will feel 'betrayed' at the planned hike, and say Reform's election claims the council had large amounts of wasteful spending were false.

The budget includes £21.5 million of savings, most within care commissioning. The council also plans to invest an extra £5.5 million in children and family services, which will fund 119 new staff, with the aim of improving early intervention.