Guildford Borough Council has decided on the council tax level for 2006/07. The Band D figure for Guildford will be £131.61, a 2.48% increase on 2005/06.

Surrey County Council has agreed an increase of 5% for 2006/07, making their Band D charge £966.69. This is up by £45.99 from last year's £920.70.

Surrey Police Authority  is increasing its Band D Council Tax by £9.00, a rise of 5.83% on last year's £154.26.

The full set of charges for Guildford, including parishes, is available.

On Guildford Borough's increase of 2.48% for 2006/07 Lead Member for Finance and Resources Councillor Tony Rooth said, "Guildford  Borough Council  (which has been Conservative controlled since 2003)  has set a below inflation council tax increase for its residents this year.

Last year's council tax increase of 2.94 % was not only the lowest rise in Surrey (as it had also been in 04/05)  but also in line with the prevailing inflation rate of 3%.This year we have gone even lower and better for our residents. Our 2.48% increase is not only lower than last year but  below the current  RPI average inflation rate for 2005 of 2.8%.

The budget includes extra spending including starting  plastics and textiles recycling trials for 15,000 homes in March and providing concessionary bus fares for the  over 60s.
 
Guildford  is a CPA rated 'excellent and improving' council. Our service performance has improved considerably over the last 3 years . For example, the recycling  rate has gone from 14% in 2003 ( 8th out of 11 Surrey districts) to 30%  and top of the Surrey league.
 
The government does not help us much with funding - for example,they have given us £140,000 less than we need for concessionary bus fares .
 
Nonetheless, we provide real "value for money" for our residents, without cutting services.  We have achieved this by working to clear priorities, better management of our resources and always keeping an eye out for how we can make things more efficient.
 
We hope this year Guildford will again keep its record for Surrey's lowest council tax rises for the 3rd successive year."