Willie Clarke and Bryan Poole at their second anti-austerity meeting.
Ending the council tax freeze could go some way to narrowing Fife Council’s £77 million funding gap, according to two independent councillors.
In the second of four anti-austerity budget roadshows, councillors Willie Clarke and Bryan Poole outlined suggestions which would see Fifers pay more but generate additional funding to be ploughed into essential services such as education.
Speaking to a small crowd in Benarty Community Centre, Mr Poole said raising the tax by 3% would see £4 million generated this equates to 43p a week extra for band A house owners to help deliver services.
However, a £4 million penalty would have to be paid to the Scottish Government in the first year for going against the tax freeze, but it is uncertain if this would be a recurring fine.
One member of the audience said it “sticks in my craw” that this money would have to be paid to the Scottish Government.
Mr Clarke said the freeze “had led to where we are now”, adding: “But council tax is a political football, but nobody wants to say it.”
