Highland council tax will rise by at least 3% from April, budget leaders reaffirmed yesterday.
Final confirmation will come at a full council meeting next month.
But the 27% of people living in band E to band H homes will pay between £2.05 and £10.06 extra per month as the result of a move imposed by the Scottish Government to mark the end of its nine-year council tax freeze.
Band E rates will rise by 7.5% (£106.61 extra for the year), band F by 12.5% (£209.99), band G by 17.5% (£339.21) and band H by 22.5% (523.35).
The council’s budget leader Bill Fernie, a member of the authority’s minority, independent-led administration, said: “Where we can increase income, this reduces the need for deeper cuts to essential services.
“We’ve identified around £16million of potential savings in service cuts and increased charges and we’re discussing these with staff and with opposition groups.
“We’ll be proposing a 3% increase in local council tax within the limits set by the Scottish Government as part of the range of measures to close the budget gap.”
He added: “We remain open to listening to the views of service users and the staff providing those services, and we’re seeking consensus across the chamber in order to make the best, most pragmatic decisions for the people of Highland.”
Opposition SNP group leader Maxine Smith said she was pleased that proposed service cuts would be “nowhere near what was originally proposed by the independent group.”
She said the Scottish Government would be “raising money from the highest bandings of council tax in order to assist local authorities in balancing their budgets.”
Councillor Smith said it would only affect “the very large houses in Highland and there will be mitigation measures for those living alone or people with little income.”
Highland council will finalise its 2017-2018 budget on February 16.
