RESIDENTS are being given their first insight into next year's council tax figures.

The first of the Bury Council budget roadshows hit Prestwich on Tuesday night (Nov 14) to explain how much money the borough's taxpayers could be asked to fork out. And householders are being asked to give their views on how much they want to pay.

More roadshows are now planned for other areas.

Councillor John Byrne told an Area Board meeting on Tuesday: "We are asking people what they think. It does influence our final budget level and the things money will be spent on."

Mr Mike Owen, chief financial services officer at Bury Council, said this year's increase of 4.94 per cent was in line with the national average. It was expected that councils would be considering rises in the region of 5 per cent for 2001/2002. A five per cent rise for Band D properties in Bury would see an increase of around £43 from £851 this year to £894 next year.

Mr Owen explained that up to £4 million extra was lined-up to be spent on education in the borough, a slight shortfall on social services spending and a bigger shortfall on other services, depending on the level of council tax set. He said it would theoretically take a council tax rise of 10 per cent to wipe away the shortfall.

Several thousand questionnaires are being sent out to households in a bid to collate opinions, and a public meeting will be held in February 2001 before major decisions are taken on the council tax level and expenditure.

The final decision will be made at a special council meeting on March 7.

Meanwhile, the budget roadshow will be taken to the future meetings of the five other Area Boards for Radcliffe, Bury East, Bury West, Ramsbottom and Tottington, and Whitefield and Unsworth.

Comments can be made at these meetings or in writing to ward councillors or to the chief financial services officer at Bury Town Hall.