Five new schools - better roads - pitch upgrades
Council tax for Edinburgh residents has been frozen for the year 2008/09 as part of the new budget.
[IMG1]
This means Edinburgh has the lowest Band D Council tax rate of the four largest Scottish cities.
The budget is good news for people of all ages.
It aims to further improve the quality of life in the city while, at the same time, delivering value for money.
Tough decisions had to be made this year on already tight budgets so that we could spend your money where it matters – on schools, affordable housing, street cleaning and roads – but especially by helping some of our most vulnerable and elderly residents.
Extra funding will now be used to fund a range of major projects. These include:
- £33 million for five new schools
- £19 million for school buildings
- £13 million for vulnerable members of society
- £21 million for Meadowbank and the Royal Commonwealth Pool
- £3.5 million for a brand new library in Drumbrae
- £5 million for parks, pitches and pavilions.
And, of course, we are always working to create a safe, green and clean city.
So £36 million is to be invested in affordable housing, £60 million spent on roads and pavements, while £6 million of extra funding will help get our recycling services sorted.
This is an exciting time for Edinburgh and we are playing our part to make your quality of life the best in the United Kingdom.