Council tax payers could face an increase in their bills next year under plans by Kent County Council to end a three-year freeze.

And another round of staff redundancies is on the cards, with the council aiming to slim down its workforce and outsource or privatise many more services.

An increase of just under 2% on bills is among the budget proposals being set out today by County Hall's Conservative administration as it strives to balance its books in the face of huge £92million shortfall next year.

It would mean average bills for KCC's share rising by about £18 next year - but would generate an extra £10m to cushion some of the impact of government cuts.

An increase of 1.9% in household bills would avoid having to hold a public referendum on the hike - but could put KCC at odds with Eric Pickles, the communities secretary.

He has criticised councils for increasing bills by just under the figure that would require a vote, describing them as democracy dodgers.

Over the next three years, KCC expects to have to save £270m and has already set out plans for a radical re-organisation that will see many more services outsourced or privatised.

Council leader Cllr Paul Carter said: "The government has imposed severe cuts in local authority grants in its endeavour to tackle the national government deficit.Inevitably savings of this magnitude mean KCC must review, change and redesign services in a way that leads to still greater efficiency."

The KCC part of the council tax has remained at £1,047 for homes in Band D for the last three years, but several district councils in Kent have chosen not to accept a government grant to help freeze bills.

The government is under pressure from town halls to reverse council spending cuts, with warnings that pruning back spending even further will hit services for the most vulnerable residents.direction of travel."

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