Kent council tax to rise by £15 for policing despite funding shortfall
Commissioner Matthew Scott gains support for police precept increase
Kent’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Scott, has secured approval for his budget proposal from the Kent and Medway Police and Crime Panel, resulting in a £15 annual rise in council tax for Band D properties to maintain police services.
The extra money aims to protect the current level of police provision amidst financial pressures.
This adjustment is equivalent to £1.25 a month or just over 4 pence a day and is expected to generate £12.3 million.
However Kent Police still faces a funding shortfall of approximately £2.9 million despite additional government funds of £12.9 million.
Matthew Scott highlights the fiscal challenges of policing and notes that while government grant funding has increased, it remains insufficient to cover rising costs such as police officer and staff pay, which this year alone will exceed £27 million.
"This is never an easy request to make, but policing continues to face significant financial pressure," PCC Scott said.
A survey found most residents back the increase, but many feel central government should pay a bigger share of police costs.
The survey conducted prior to the proposal’s presentation revealed that nearly 87% of respondents either supported or understood the necessity of the additional £15 charge.
However, only 13% agreed with the current balance of funding between central and local sources.
Matthew Scott emphasised residents' desire for fairer funding, with many supporting reform efforts to adjust the proportion of police funding provided by central government versus local sources.
"The data from my survey clearly shows that residents believe that central funding should be more than it is," Mr Scott added.
"A large majority felt central government should provide a higher proportion of police funding."
Despite financial constraints, Scott noted recent reductions in crime rates, which have decreased by 10.6% over the past four years, and reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring funds are utilized effectively.
"I will continue to work with the Chief Constable to make sure your money is spent well" says Matthew Scott.