Town's tax rise approved amid 'challenging' times

People in Boston will have to pay 2.99% more for borough council services.

Councillors approved a proposed budget on Monday, after leader Anne Dorrian described it as "extremely challenging" due to rising costs.

A Band D home will pay £223.65 per year, a rise of £7.56.

Lincolnshire County Council and the police and crime commissioner have also approved increases, meaning a Band D home is set to pay about £2,167 in total council tax, before the addition of parish council levies.

Presenting the borough council's report, Councillor Sandeep Ghosh said the challenges were "driven not by worldwide events, as we have previously seen, but by government and policy changes".

"This means we are receiving significantly less government support than in previous years with the removal of the rural services delivery grant," he added.

Ghosh referred to internal drainage board levies as an "ever-increasing pressure" and noted a rise of £102,000 for 2025-26.

The total bill for the levies would rise to £2,927,050, a 45% increase since 2021-22, he said.

Meanwhile, the portion of the bill dedicated to the Boston Town Area Committee will rise by 72p to £81.09 a year for a Band D home, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Lincolnshire County Council approved a 2.99% rise in its portion of council tax, which will rise to £1,625.85 per year for a Band D property, while the police precept will rise to £318.15.

Last month, borough councillors voted to increase council tax support in order to "ease the financial burden" on struggling families.

Dorrian said the move would "lift approximately 400 families out of poverty".

Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.