Finance directors are under fire again from the Taxpayers' Alliance, which has slammed soaring tax bills and charges by local authorities, in its latest report. The pressure group's study, entitled The Great British taxpayer rip off, claims tax bills have risen by more than 50% in the last 10 years, leaving the average household with an annual bill of £20,700. At the same time, taxpayers are facing higher charges for various council services, including libraries, school dinners and car parking. ‘The British public are being ripped off in the most shameful way,' said Alliance chief executive, Matthew Elliott. ‘With fewer police stations, limited GP hours, libraries closing, rarer bin collections and a host of other cuts, we are getting less for our money than ever before.' The MJ reported earlier this month that the Taxpayers' Alliance had called for local authorities to cut budgets for publicity, middle and senior management, and pensions, by 10%. But LGA deputy chief executive, John Ransford, said such a move would lead to ‘savage cuts in vital local services'.
