Council Tax 2008/09

The police precept comprises approximately one tenth of the total council tax bill.

It is the responsibility of Hampshire Police Authority to set the council tax for policing in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

The Chief Constable prepares the budget for the coming year and advises Hampshire Police Authority how much he needs to efficiently and effectively police the two counties.

The Police Authority receives the money for this budget from government grants, business rates and the police precept in the council tax. Depending on how much money it receives from government, the Police Authority has to raise a certain amount of money from the precept, which is the only part of its income the Authority can adjust.

The police precept comprises approximately one tenth of the total council tax bill; in 2007/08 it increased by 4.97 per cent.

In 2008/09 the policing element for a council tax band D is £135.54, compared with £125.37 in 2007/08, which equates to an increase of £10.17 (8.11%) per annum or 20 pence per week.

How the money will be used

In 2008/09 the Police Authority will invest £331m gross expenditure into policing Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, compared with £318m in 2007/08. After deducting income, specific grants and use of reserves, this results in the budget of £294.2m. This year, we have increased the police part of the council tax in order to meet growing demands of essential policing activity and to continue the commitment to increases in neighbourhood policing over recent years. In achieving the budget, difficult decisions on savings have still had to be made.  Savings of £3.2m will be achieved in areas that impact least on frontline policing and with the most scope for efficiencies.  Growth of £3.2m has only been provided for issues that are statutory, regulatory or opreationally critical. In 2008/09 the Police Authority will invest a further £17.1m in its capital assets.  This will be spent on police buildings (£13.6m) and vehicles (£3.5m)

Please visit the 'frequently asked questions' page to find out more about the amount for policing in the council tax.

The information booklet issued with council tax bills can be viewed on the precept notices page of this site.

The report that presented the budget and amount for policing in the council tax to the Police Authority on 19 February 2008 can be downloaded by clicking here.