• Budget of tax rises, not better services, say Lib Dems
• Haringey part of council tax to rise by over 17%
• Lib Dems predict council tax rise of over 50% rise over four years

Labour-run Haringey Council’s high tax budget was condemned by the Lib Dem opposition who accused Haringey Labour of making the council tax payer pick up the tab for their financial mismanagement.

The council has proposed a massive 17.4% increase in the council tax to cover the perceived £13 million hole in this year’s budget.

The Lib Dems argued that council tax rises were the result of two cynical moves byHaringey Labour in the run-up to the last council elections – holding down council tax increases and at the same time heavily overspending in an attempt to retain their seats at the May 2002 local elections.

The Lib Dems have also pointed out that on Labour’s current plans, council tax bills will rise by over 50% over the four year lifespan of the current council.

Lib Dem Leader of the Official Opposition, Cllr Ross Laird, lead the attack on the budget at this week’s full council, saying that Haringey had failed to convince the Government that it needed better funding, while at the same time wasted money on bureaucracy and expensive consultants, resulting in a large overspend.

Ross Laird comments:

“This budget shows the depth of Haringey Labour’s cynicism. They have pegged back council tax rises, and indulged in huge overspending, which will now have to be paid for. The tax increases for local residents will be huge, and some vital services will suffer. It is a budget of tax rises, not a budget for investment in the borough.”