As Council Tax rises take effect across the country today, families face an average tax hike of £46 a year. Research from the TaxPayers' Alliance shows that that Council Tax has been an increasing burden on families for decades. Between 1996-97 and 2010-11, 152 local authorities increased Council Tax every single year.
Click here for the research note on historical Council Tax rise
Click here for the full data set, broken down by individual council
Our research also shows that even while pleading poverty, some councils continued to raise the rate of councillors' allowances, with one raising the basic rate of allowance by 83 per cent between 2012-13 and 2014-15.
Click here to see the full briefing note on councillors' allowances
Click here for a breakdown of every council in the country
Jonathan Isaby, Chief Executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said:
"Most families have faced a creeping Council Tax rise over the last 20 years so attempts to blame today's tax rise on recent central government spending reductions ring hollow in many cases. The sad truth remains that some local authorities have failed to find necessary savings and cut out waste, instead being too quick to plug any holes in their budgets through tax hikes.
"Families already struggling with sky-high bills will be hit hard again by today's significant tax hike. When - as our research shows - many councils have actually prioritised raising the rate of councillors' allowance over easing the tax burden on hard-pressed residents, taxpayers will have little sympathy for councils pleading poverty."
TPA spokesmen are available for live and pre-recorded broadcast interviews via 07795 084 113 (no texts)