by Dan Bloom

Council tax is going up by 1.99% - just enough so council chiefs don’t have to ask you if you want it to.

The move was confirmed this week as Medway Council’s cabinet revealed its 2013/14 budget.

The tax, which was frozen for the last two years to help struggling residents, will be risen but not hit the 2% threshold to trigger a referendum.

Finance chief Cllr Alan Jarrett (Con) said: “This year has been the worst yet, and we ain’t seen nothing yet, so it’s very worrying indeed.

“It’s a step too far, we just can’t keep finding these savings against the backcloth of these huge cuts in grant.”

The rise will bring the bill for an average (band D) house to £1,141, a rise of £22 which Cllr Mike O’Brien (Con) said was “less than a pint of beer a week” and Cllr Jarrett said was still the lowest in Kent.

Some perks of last year’s budget have been preserved permanently, including free swimming, a graffiti team, apprenticeships and free parking at Christmas.

The cabinet once again promised all 19 Sure Start centres would remain open, despite what Labour says is a steep cut in funding.

Yet despite claiming the budget was balanced, Cllr Jarrett admitted there are £589,000 in “unspecified savings” which still need to be worked out.

And there will be yet another round of back-office cuts aiming to save £1.4m.

Despite the council tax injection this year’s budget was frantically compiled, since the government only confirmed its figures last Monday.

Cllr Howard Doe (Con) said: “We’re building bricks out of straw at the moment. I just hope the government doesn’t decide it wants to cut the straw, which I’m sure it will do in due course.”

More on the budget in the Medway Messenger on Friday.