1 IN FOUR WILL FACE MASSIVE COUNCIL TAX HIKE

Householders living in the top four bands could face rise in bills of up to 22.5% - over and above normal yearly increase, according to leaked paper

- PAUL HUTCHEON

ONE in four households is facing "eye-watering" council tax hikes of up to 22.5 per cent as part of a desperate bid to boost town hall finances.

Steep rises are being discussed by local authority chiefs and the Scottish Government and would target those living in more expensive properties.

A leaked paper by umbrella group Cosla reveals the discussions of a joint group chaired by Scottish Government Ministers on reform of the council tax - a property tax that helps fund local authorities.

Technical changes to the calculations behind council tax, called multipliers, led to big rises for people in more expensive band E, F, G and H properties in 2017.

A similar plan is being examined again, even though Scots are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.

But the plan sparked fury from an opposition MSP last night.

Labour's Mark Griffin said: "The party that promised to scrap the council tax over 15 years ago is once more forcing councils to increase council tax rates to fill the financial black hole that the SNP created.

"In the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, SNP economic illiteracy is forcing bills higher for thousands of Scots while the government obsesses over independence.

"This eye-watering proposed hike in council tax is the result of the SNP's economic incompetence - it is Humza Yousaf's Liz Truss moment."