I have criticised the SNP for proposing council tax rises which could cost over 16,000 Borders residents hundreds of pounds more each year.
The SNP plans, put forward in a consultation, would see council tax increases of 7.5 per cent for Band E properties, 12.5 per cent for Band F properties, 17.5 per cent for Band G properties, and 22.5 per cent for Band H properties.
Research by the Scottish Conservatives found that the number of households facing tax increases in the Borders would be 6,617 at Band E, who would see their bills increase £133.63.
A further 5,066 would be hit in Band F, who would see their bills increase £275.46.
Around 4,691 properties in Band G would be affected, with bills increased by roughly £464.75.
And an extra 490 households would face a tax increase at Band H, who would see their bills increase £747.56.
These proposals will worry people across the Borders who rely on local services.
Every year the SNP Government chooses to pass the buck onto councils to make impossible decisions about which services to reduce, instead of giving local authorities the financial support they need.
The SNP must abandon these proposals and deliver more funding to councils to support essential services.
