Edinburgh citizens fear their pockets will be hit again after the council revealed a £30 million gap in funding.
The council is proposing to cut public services and increase charges to help meet the shortfall, and is looking to local residents to foot the bill.
A budget consultation opened on the 20th November asking people to comment on a proposed hike in council tax of up to 15%, together with increases in parking and garden waste collection charges.
The suggested cuts include reduced funding to key services like education and homelessness support.
Edinburgh resident Avril Macdonald said she was angry at the proposals: “increasing costs to families in a cost-of-living crisis is despicable”.
She continued, “They could save money by managing their contractors better and ensuring a quality job first time. Just look at the state of the roads!”
Dorothy Bain lives in Leith: “I’m really worried about money. I’m a pensioner and can’t afford to pay more council tax.”
The Edinburgh City Council (ECC) is projecting the deficit will increase to £109 million by 2028/2029, citing increased costs and an aging population in the city.
Credit: Edinburgh City Council
The ECC could raise up £50 million of additional income from the introduction of a Visitor Levy (tourist tax), from summer 2026, but the scheme is yet to get the go-ahead from city councillors.
Edinburgh local Jim Spiers said he could understand that costs are higher but struggled with the proposals made by the council.
“I know costs have gone up, we all feel that in our pockets” Spiers said,” but cutting funding to key areas like education and getting homeless people off the street makes no sense.”
Edinburgh residents have until 14th January to comment on the city’s budget consultation proposals.
