(UK) Slough: Tax increase due to deficit; "rise in adult social care precept"

Mar 1, 2022, Royal Borough Observer: Slough council tax set to rise by three per cent https://www.windsorobserver.co.uk/news/19961271.slough-council-tax-set-rise-three-per-cent/

Near London HISTORIC financial issues have forced Slough Borough Council (SBC) to spike council tax to the maximum allowed as it potentially faces a £479m blackhole. As part of the 2022/23 budget setting, the Labour-run council is proposing a 1.99 per cent increase in council tax and a one per cent rise in the adult social care precept – an increase of £44.56 for band D properties. Increasing council tax by nearly three per cent is the maximum permitted without going to referendum. For the current financial year, the council is facing a £223m deficit and is anticipating to see a further estimated £84m, totalling a £307m blackhole in 2022/23. The revenue budget, money used for day-to-day spending, such as adult social care, is set at £107.6m [$144M]. But the council’s financial pressures require this to be set at £191.7 m [$260M], resulting in an £84.1m [$112M] deficit. Within the budget paper, which is due to go to scrutiny, cabinet, and full council next week, finance officers predict the local authority could “potentially” face a longer-term deficit of £479m. SBC issued a section 114, which freezes all non-essential spending, in July after it was unearthed the council was £760m in borrowing debt, the third-highest per head of population amongst all unitary councils….