COUNCIL tax bills are expected to break the £1,000 mark for many more householders after Kent County Council revealed plans for a 12.5 per cent increase in bills this year.

County Hall’s ruling Conservative administration also disclosed proposals to axe 300 central administration jobs over the next three years as part of a package of savings totalling about £30million.

The job losses will be mainly in finance, personnel and IT departments and will include compulsory redundancies. A freeze on recruitment in all departments, implemented last year, will also continue.

KCC said it was left with no option because of a shift in central Government funding, which has left it with less cash than many other councils in the North and the Midlands.

The budget will see bills for householders in Band D homes – the average band – rise from £758 to £852 or the equivalent of an extra £1.82 a week. Final bills will be higher once the local district or borough council tax levy, along with the police levy, are added in.

County council leader Sir Sandy Bruce-Lockhart said described Kent’s budget dilemma as a bitter pill. “We have been asked to perform mission impossible. Our Government grant has been increased by 3.9 per cent – compared to twice as much for councils in the North and Midlands.

"We have been told to increase schools spending by 6.6per cent and funding for the elderly and vulnerable is to rise by 8.6 per cent. Only cuts and council tax can fill the gap.”

The final decision on the budget and council tax levels will be made on February 20.