Council to axe 95 jobs in face of tax rise
Ninety five jobs are being axed by West Sussex County Council this year as it grapples with a disastrous government grant settlement and a crushing financial squeeze.
Council leader Cllr Henry Smith revealed this week that if the authority had received grants in line with the English average, it could be cutting band D council-tax bills by 75 in 2006-2007 instead of putting them up.
As it is, the cabinet has recommended a 4.9 per cent increase in council tax. If approved by the full county council, the county's share of the average band D bill will go up from 954.18 to 1,001.34.