Powys County Council want you to have your say on their upcoming budget

Powys County Council are asking for your opinions on their upcoming budget & council tax setting for 2023/2024 - but you'll only have until tomorrow to have your say.

Powys County Council, which provides a range of services such as education, roads, adult social care, waste and recycling, leisure centres, libraries and more is seeking your views on it's upcoming budget for the next financial year. Most of the services they provide are statutory services which must be provided by law.

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According to the council, energy costs, surging inflation and the current economic climate are having a significant impact on the Council's financial planning.

The survey closes on the 5th January 2023 and was only promoted on YouTube 12 days ago. In previous years the budget surveys have lasted at least a month. We asked the county council why no formal press release had been issued on the survey and they confirmed that it had only been promoted on social media and that the closing date was short notice as the information had been delayed.

You can have your say on the council's budget priorities by clicking on this link: https://www.haveyoursaypowys.wales/budget-survey-2022 

In the introduction to the survey it says:

"The increases mean that for next year (2023-24) we will need to find more money - to maintain what we currently provide or reduce our service delivery. The Welsh Government will provide some additional funding and we will have to consider raising Council Tax to raise additional funds, – a five per cent council tax increase is being considered , but these alone will not bridge the gap in our budget."

"To balance the budget next year, we will have to take out more than £20m of costs and we would like your input into how best we can do this. It will have an impact on the service we offer but by doing things differently we can reduce our costs."

"We need you to help us shape what the council could look like, it will be a smaller council, but it is essential that we prioritise the services to those that need our support most. Doing things differently can help us use the money we have effectively."

"The national economy is struggling too, and we do not expect our funding over the next few years to meet the costs we have so change will take place over a number of years to come."