Tax dodgers cost us £18.5m
HEMSWORTH MP John Trickett has urged council chiefs to take a hard line with tax dodgers after it was revealed the authority is owed £18.5m.
There has been a huge rise in non-payment of council tax - an increase of 10m in the past five years - and Mr Trickett wants it stamped out.
He said: "The council should pursue those that haven't paid and take a hard line on this because it simply isn't fair on the honest hard working people that do pay.
"And if people don't pay it means that others have to pay more to cover the deficit and why should honest citizens be left to foot the bill?"
The amount owed on March 31 this year was 18,508,000, according to figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, which is a rise of 4m since 2007/08.
The increase has been put down to the growing numbers of unemployment due to the recession.
Councillor Laurie Harrison, representing South Kirkby, said: "If no-one paid tax we wouldn't have the schools we send our children to, or the roads we use to get to work.
"People should pay to their means and if they can't, there are systems in place to help them."
Judith Badger, the council's head of finance, said: "The jump from 14.5m in 2007/08 to 18.6m in 2008/09 was attributable to the recession and at the time the council was, and is, continuing to help citizens in financial difficulties by agreeing monthly payments based upon what they can afford to pay.
"Where citizens are unable to pay the full amount in the year, this contributes to the level of arrears."
In 2009/10 alone, more than 16,000 court summons were issued to residents.
Court costs incurred trying to recover the debt have run into tens of thousands of pounds, which the council is also trying to recover.
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