Tenby Town Council has increased its precept for the year 2006/07. Estimated expenditure for the forthcoming financial year will rise from £129,491.96 in 2005/06 to £134,487.31 - a 3.85 per cent increase on last year. At Tuesday night's meeting of the council, members agreed to the amended budget, making the town's portion of the Band D council tax levy £52.88 for the year - an increase of 88p on the current figure. Reporting on factors determining the increase, the council's financial officer and clerk, Mr. Andrew Davies, stated that account must be made of the council's intention to further upgrade Augustus Place Community Centre with the provision of new furniture, which had not been applicable under the current grant bid for the proposed refurbishment. An increase in the contingency fund by £2,500 to £7,500 was in line with the budget committee's recommendation to allow for future decisions regarding expenditure on tourism and the Arts. The financial officer also pointed to costs for Mayor-making and other civic entertainments that have been rising year on year, with no budget increase for a number of years. This has been offset, however, in reductions to the estimates for legal costs and memorial benches. "Although the increase represents a 3.85 per cent rise in revenue available to the council to spend for the benefit of the people of Tenby, the actual cost to them is only going up 1.7 per cent, which is less than the rate of inflation," commented Mr. Davies. Councillors agreed to the budget for 2006/07.
