Heroes or zeroes?
Boston Borough Council's glee club - aka the cabinet - is recommending a standstill budget for the coming financial year.
Interestingly, the borough council press release calls this : "A 0% rise in Boston Borough Council's Council Tax Charge...."
For something to rise, it has to move. And to rise by 0% means that it does not move, so ergo it is not a rise.
The release goes on: "Cabinet members voted unanimously for the recommendation of the zero per cent rise to send a clear message to residents that the council understands the tough economic situation residents are having to face, and that the council will do all it can to help."
It's good to hear that the cabinet understands something at last .... even if it it not quite able to express it in English.
The problem with a standstill budget is that the council's need for money does not stand still.
We are sure that the staff will not be willing to accept a pay freeze for the coming year - although a council tax freeze may well be used to try to justify such a move.
And whilst inflation is down in some areas, in others .... particularly the crucial weekly food bill ... prices are rising quite sharply.
Additionally, the council also has to find cuts in services to balance its budget.
A council tax rise of say one and a half per cent would have been seen as a good attempt to help people keep a rein on their household bills, as it would have added a paltry £1.50 to the annual bill for a band A property, which is the band that predominates in the borough, which would not have hurt anyone very much.
It would have raised a few thousand - not much - but as they say in these troubled times .... "every little helps."
A tax freeze smacks more of stunt than succour ... and is far more in line with what we expect from our spin dominated rulers than generosity.
It is on a par with the much vaunted government reduction in VAT, which did nothing to spur spending or help people's finances.
We fear that if the BBI sheep follow the recommendation of the cabinet wolves then trouble will not be far away.
Write to us at boston.eye@googlemail.com Your e-mails will be treated in confidence if requested/
Boston Borough Council's glee club - aka the cabinet - is recommending a standstill budget for the coming financial year.
Interestingly, the borough council press release calls this : "A 0% rise in Boston Borough Council's Council Tax Charge...."
For something to rise, it has to move. And to rise by 0% means that it does not move, so ergo it is not a rise.
The release goes on: "Cabinet members voted unanimously for the recommendation of the zero per cent rise to send a clear message to residents that the council understands the tough economic situation residents are having to face, and that the council will do all it can to help."
It's good to hear that the cabinet understands something at last .... even if it it not quite able to express it in English.
The problem with a standstill budget is that the council's need for money does not stand still.
We are sure that the staff will not be willing to accept a pay freeze for the coming year - although a council tax freeze may well be used to try to justify such a move.
And whilst inflation is down in some areas, in others .... particularly the crucial weekly food bill ... prices are rising quite sharply.
Additionally, the council also has to find cuts in services to balance its budget.
A council tax rise of say one and a half per cent would have been seen as a good attempt to help people keep a rein on their household bills, as it would have added a paltry £1.50 to the annual bill for a band A property, which is the band that predominates in the borough, which would not have hurt anyone very much.
It would have raised a few thousand - not much - but as they say in these troubled times .... "every little helps."
A tax freeze smacks more of stunt than succour ... and is far more in line with what we expect from our spin dominated rulers than generosity.
It is on a par with the much vaunted government reduction in VAT, which did nothing to spur spending or help people's finances.
We fear that if the BBI sheep follow the recommendation of the cabinet wolves then trouble will not be far away.
Write to us at boston.eye@googlemail.com Your e-mails will be treated in confidence if requested/
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