With the high cost of living, including energy bills, equipment, and fuel the proposed increase in the precept would allow the service to be able to meet targets which aim to keep the people in West Yorkshire safe.
To hear what the public thinks about these suggestions a survey was open until midnight on January 8th for residents to have their say on the rise, and any other suggestions around our spending before the budget is set in February 2024.
Chair of WYFRA Cllr Darren O’Donovan said: “We are continuing to invest in our staff and infrastructure with our key aim of keeping the people of West Yorkshire safe. However, due to the cost-of-living squeeze and the real-time cuts to resources from this government, we are now facing significant cost burdens.
“For over a decade now, the government have substantially reduced our operating grant. This grant reduction has left parts of our service with less resource than it once had. To make up that financial shortfall, the government has an expectation that we will increase our Council tax precept and in effect, ask the public in West Yorkshire to pay a greater contribution.
“We run WYFRS as carefully and efficiently as possible and take great care in planning our financial management – but we need some extra money to maintain this service and give the public in West Yorkshire the provision they deserve.
“I understand this is a difficult ask from the public – but we need extra funding, and this government has left us with no choice. Despite the possible rise we remain one of the cheapest and most efficient fire and rescue services in the country, and we will continue to push the government to invest more fairly in the communities here in West Yorkshire.”
Fire authorities can seek to increase their council tax precept by up to 3% per year for a Band D property. This would raise enough funds to enable the Authority to maintain its current level of services and meet some of the pressures it faces from inflation and rising costs.