Do you agree that council tax payers should be able to choose the services their money should be spent on?

Question

The government has said that local people should be consulted more about things happening in their area. So why should the council tax not be open to local choice and public scrutiny. When councils want to raise taxes they should surely have to justify it to local people who can then decide wether they agree or disagree with the councils proposals.

Answer 1

The reason for elections is so we do not have to make these decisions.

There are lots of things that councils have to do that need and have a consultation period built in.

They try to justify what they do and if they are not convincing they get their marching orders at the next election.

The things we have to be wary about are the Quangos

Answer 2

Tax is raised and goes into a pot. The budgets for the various services are then decided in their order of priority against need. Nip along to a council meeting when this is happening for more iinsight.

Answer 3

That's why we have elections at regular intervals. Councils would never get anything done if they had to go through a local referendum on every little (or big) decision.

Answer 4

I for one agree with you, councils should be out in the open with their expenditure.

Answer 5

I agree with your last sentence, but not the original question.

Answer 6

You do mate its called voting.

Something that is still up to you, unlike Zimbabwe and the US

Answer 7

I think we should be told about how the money is spent exactly and how much is wasted by councils and some of their employees!

Answer 8

They should base it on performance. Only problem is most council's would end up paying the residents.