AS local authorities struggle to balance their books in the economic downturn, Hampshire Police Authority (HPA) has proposed an inflation-busting council tax rise of almost five per cent.
If the proposed budget for 2009/10 for Hampshire Police of £304.7m is agreed at a full meeting of the HPA next Tuesday, it will see a rise in its portion of the council tax of 4.8 per cent, just below the point at which it could be capped under Government rules.
For full story, see this week's Petersfield Herald.