Bah humbug! It's not going to be a very merry Christmas for council taxpayers in Tenby.
The town council has rubber-stamped an increase in its precept for the forthcoming financial year.
At their last meeting before Christmas, councillors set their budget for 2009/10 at £142,958.31.
That's a £2,471 hike on the current balance sheets, town clerk, Mr. Andrew Davies, revealed at Tuesday night's meeting.
"This represents an increase of 1.75 per cent, which is considerably below the current rate of inflation," he pointed out.
"The rise is predominantly to meet the costs of hosting Wales in Bloom and to cover inflation increases," he added.
"We could have had a standstill budget, but with the current financial situation and the volatility of the market, it is not prudent to follow that course this year, as when we have done that, it has resulted in larger than inflated increases in subsequent years."
A £5,000 sum has been set aside for the prestigious floral prize-giving ceremony which is planned for September.
Other principal spend items, meanwhile, include £38,000 for salaries, superannuation, NI etc, a £36,000 grant for the De Valence, plus £2,500 for the pavilion's Young Performers, £17,300 for the Christmas lights, £10,740 for office and council office administration, £2,790 on the new cemetery, £2,500 for entertainment for Mayor-making and civic events, £2,000 for the Mayor's allowance and £1,500 for tourism.
When members came to confirm the budget, the only matter raised came from Clr. Mrs. Trisha Putwain, who asked if the council could be given a breakdown of the De Valence Trust's income and expenditure on the Youth Theatre on a monthly basis. Members agreed.