Increase in Scottish local government settlement
0The Scottish finance secretary, Derek Mackay, has announced an increase in the local government settlement of £210m in real terms.
Addressing the Scottish Parliament on 12 December Mackay said: “The decisions I have taken in this year’s budget will also allow me to increase funding for local government in 2019-20, providing total support of £11.1bn.”
He also announced a below-inflation increase in non-domestic business rates.
Mackay announced his draft budget on 12 December with increases in spending on education and health as well.
The general rise in expenditure will be funded by freezing the threshold for higher rate income tax in Scotland at £43,430 in 2019-20.
In contrast, UK chancellor Philip Hammond has said he will increase the threshold for the higher tax band to £50,000 from April.
