Budget is a fair deal for Edinburgh, says local MSP

Edinburgh Council is set to receive a significant funding boost as a result of this year’s SNP Scottish Government budget – with local services in Edinburgh benefiting from an extra £16.5 million, says local SNP MSP Ben Macpherson,

He said the SNP’s progressive reforms – which will see 55% of taxpayers pay less in income tax than if they lived elsewhere in the UK – guarantee a 2.28% rise in Edinburgh Council’s resource budget, providing extra funding for schools, roads and housing. The budget will also see Edinburgh schools benefit from £7,452,120 as part of the Pupil Equity Fund, helping to tackle the attainment gap.

The Scottish Budget also provides additional spending on our NHS – which will see an extra £400 million of funding to help protect our health service from Tory austerity.

SNP MSP Ben Macpherson said: “This extra funding for Edinburgh council – an additional £16.5 million for the coming year – is a fair settlement for our communities. 

“The SNP’s progressive reforms on income tax will mean 70% of people will pay less than they did last year, and 55% will pay less than they would if they lived south of the border – despite continued austerity and 2.6bn of cuts being imposed on Scotland by the Tories at Westminster between 2010-2020.

“This budget takes the total resource budget for our council’s services – such as schools, roads and housing – to £723.318 for the coming year, an increase of 2.28% when compared with last year.

“This progressive budget will also provide extra funding for our NHS, education and affordable housing, and more money for our economy, research and our environment too – as well as protecting free university tuition, free personal care for the elderly, free school meals and free prescriptions.

“While the Tories propose cutting over £556 million from public services, in order to pay for their tax cuts for the wealthiest, the SNP Government is delivering for our councils and protects the vital local services in Edinburgh that we all hold dear.”

Councillors will set Edinburgh’s budget this morning. The meeting starts at 10am.