Midsomer Norton Town Council met to discuss the 2024/2025 budget and precept, agreeing to increase the latter by 19.1%.

In a Full Council Meeting held at The Hollies on Monday, 5th January, the Town Council unanimously agreed to set the precept amount for 2024-2025 as £558,734.00, an increase of 19.1% compared to last year. This increase equates to 56p per week for a Band D house.

According to a report, last year's precept (2023/2024) was £469,190.00, meaning an increase of £89,544.00 has been agreed by the Council.

The minutes, published last Friday, showed that “Cllr Cheryl Scott proposed the precept amount for 2024-2025 is £558,734.00, this was seconded by Cllr Lynda Robertson and unanimously agreed.”

The agreed amount is set to cover a £48,000 Town Hall loan, £50,000 worth of operating costs for the Town Hall and £25,000 for a staff member specifically hired to apply for grants to fund phase 2 of the Town Hall renovation.

The graph below represents the four different Mayors Midsomer Norton Town Council has had since its inception and the precept flow.

The Journal reached out to Midsomer Norton Town Councillors and Clerk for comments and are awaiting a reply.