Home-owners in Maidstone will be asked to pay 2% more towards financing the borough council when they receive their new council tax bills in April.

The council passed it budget yesterday with members voting to set the "average" charge - that for a Band D house-owner - at £265.59

However, the total Council Tax bill will be much higher than that, because the average Band D resident will also be asked to pay £1,232.64 to KCC, plus £118.62 as the KCC adult social care precept, £203.15 to the Kent Police Crime Commissioner and £79.29 to the Kent and Medway Fire and Rescue Authority.

That brings the total "average" bill up to £1,899.29.

That said, those who live in smaller houses will pay less, while those who have bigger homes will pay more.

The total council tax bill ranges from £1,226.19 for a Band A house up to £3,798.58 for a Band H home.

For those who live in an area with a parish council there is yet a further bill to pay.

The "parish precept" as it is known is decided by the individual parish councils and ranges from £24 for villagers in Boughton Malherbe, to £122.56 for those living in the borough's most expensive parish - Headcorn.

The borough council's budget was widely supported by councillors from all parties with only Cllrs Eddie Powell (Maidstone Independent) and Tom and Janetta Sams (both Independent) voting against.

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