Your tax bill could be on the up again unless Gravesham council swallows a loss of more than £1.6 million.

Last year Gravesham’s slice of your overall council tax went up by 2.65% — or £4.95 — per year for a band D property, and it is set do so again for the coming financial year and take the annual bill to £191.61.

If a freeze was decided on instead, the borough council would face an income reduction of £1.64 million during a period in which government cuts are already taking their toll.

The council’s government support grant will completely evaporate in 2019, meaning a reduction of £5 million in annual income compared to 2010, when austerity measures were first introduced.

Cllr David Turner, deputy leader of the borough council, acknowledged that the cuts meant “tough choices” had to be made and defended the tax bill hike.

“Without this increase in council tax, the council will not be able to continue to deliver high quality services to its residents, such as refuse collection and recycling, street cleaning and environmental health functions,” he said.

“This council tax increase is necessary due to significant on-going reductions in central government support, which has seen a further cut in funding for this borough in 2017/18 of over £1 million per annum.

“Our budget in 2016/17 is £14 million, so the reduction in grant represents a substantial challenge for the council.”

Gravesham council needs to find savings of £10,000 per working day by 2019 and cabinet members have spent recent months identifying ways in which to bridge the gap.

Public toilets are being shut in the town centre, plus Northfleet, Cobham, and Meopham, to save £76,000, and the council has also secured an additional £184,000 of revenue by upping car parking fees by 30p across all tariffs.

The community engagement budget has been knocked down by £56,600 and the leader’s community budget, which pays for Gravesham’s Christmas programme, is being scrapped.

“Without this increase in council tax, the council will not be able to continue to deliver high quality services to its residents, such as refuse collection and recycling, street cleaning and environmental health functions" Cllr David Turner

Other events like Gravesham in Bloom are being downsized and TownCentric in St George’s Square has been closed down at a saving of £66,310, to name but a few more.

To add further insult to injury, the council’s New Homes Bonus was hit by an unexpected reduction of £750,000 just before Christmas.

Cllr Turner continued: “The council’s need for savings has grown and means that difficult decisions will have to be made to ensure that we continue to deliver frontline services for our residents.

“We have been pro-active by making some savings already, but if we are to preserve as many high quality services as possible an increase in Council Tax is unavoidable and necessary.”

Any change to council tax will form part of the council’s budget for the next financial year, subject to approval at a full council meeting on Tuesday, February 21.

Other elements of your council tax bill are considered separately. Kent Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott has already announced a £5 increase to council tax for Kent Police to pay for more officers and PCSOs.