COUNCIL tax will increase in the Wee County by three per cent, if the budget is approved by elected representatives tomorrow.

The agenda for a special council meeting on Thursday, February 27, was published by the local authority a week ago and councillors will be debating the proposed budget for 2020-21.

Originally, a four per cent increase to the local government levy was being proposed by officers and papers for the meeting detail how three-fourths of those responding "expressed dissatisfaction".

Documents to be tabled at Kilncraigs tomorrow said: "Whilst there are no firm patterns, comments reflect a perception that the council is charging more for less services; the launch of the garden permit scheme during this period, which was frequently cited as an example, seems to have impacted markedly on this perception.

"There is also some indication of a perception that Clackmannanshire's Council Tax is already higher than charges elsewhere in Scotland.

"Whilst the survey responses provide little in the way of information on impacts and potential mitigations, there is some indication within the commentary that increases should not exceed local wage or general inflation rates."

Instead, a three per cent increase is being put forward, which will raise £23.7million for the local authority, in addition to the around £79m general revenue grant from government, ring-fenced revenue grants of £6.7m, and income of £16m from business rates.

Much of that is subject to approval of the Local Government Finance Order, to be decided on at Holyrood in early March.

A three per cent increase will result in a Band D council tax of £1,304.63 for 2020-21, up from £1,266.63.

In the middle of last year, the indicative funding gap for the local authority, the difference between what is thought to be needed for services and more against what was estimated to be coming in, had stood around £10m.

The figure is now said to be just under £3m, less than a third of the original sum.

Much of the budget focuses on transforming the way services are delivered locally, which has been the key focus of the council for the past two years.

Council documents said: "This year's budget marks a watershed between the historic approach to both service delivery and budgeting and that which we aspire to – it is a transitional budget which aims to create the capacity and planned activity, phased over realistic timescales, and which aims to be underpinned by appropriate levels of investment."

The level of savings proposed is much more minimal compared to 2019-20, when nearly £5m of cuts were required.

Only around £1m is being proposed this time around, much of this will come from "management efficiencies".

There is £10,000 in policy savings, including the "removal of operating budget for Menstrie Castle" and £8,000 saved from "community participation in the provision of annual bedding schemes".