THIS year s precept is reasonable say Buntingford town councillors. Councillors agreed on a 2.99 per cent increase – 1 per cent lower than last year, at a meeting of the town council on Thursday. The good news for taxpayers is that the town council will

THIS year's precept is "reasonable" say Buntingford town councillors.

Councillors agreed on a 2.99 per cent increase - 1 per cent lower than last year, at a meeting of the town council on Thursday.

The good news for taxpayers is that the town council will be keeping the precept below the rate of inflation.

Last year's (2006/7) 3.9 per cent rise meant the council had £211,333 for running costs, with an average Band D household paying £1,356.77-a-year.

This year's budget (2007/8) will be reported on March 1 at a full council meeting.

Cllr Sanjit Basra said: "It's a reasonable increase. The council's finances are in a healthy state at the moment and if we can keep it like it is I will be very happy because in previous years it has been quite high."

Cllr Pat Whittaker also believed it was a "fair increase".

"We have been lucky because it falls below 3 per cent and it will help towards the rates which can be high," he said.

"We have a good balance this year. There's no point keeping the precept too low because you can't do the things you need to do. One of the problems with Buntingford was it was too low at one point and wasn't keeping pace with various inflation issues."

Cllr Eunice Woods said the council has been trying to keep the precept within limits.

"The precept has been finely tuned," she said. "It's taken a lot of looking into things but it still doesn't leave an enormous amount of money for extras such as bins.

However, we all suffer from the same problem of high taxes.