Tax dodgers cost Black Country councils more than £10 million last year, latest figures revealed. Walsall had the highest bill with £3.1 million still owed by people not paying from April 2005 to April 2006.
It was a rise of more than £600,000 on the the previous year. In Sandwell the figure was £2.6 million - a reduction of nearly £1 million on last year’s figure.
Tax dodgers costs Wolverhampton Council £2.4 million compared to £2.28 million the year before.
The lowest figure for unpaid council tax in the Black Country was in Dudley, but £1.9m tax is still owed compared to £1.8 million from the year before.
The West Midlands region topped £50 million - up £3 million on last year, suggesting councils are fighting a losing battle to keep tax payments coming in.
Councillor John O’Hare, Walsall Council cabinet member for resources, said: “Walsall Council does everything possible to protect the public purse and, this year alone, has collected over £1.1 million of previous years’ debt.”
He said arrears were unavoidable and no authority achieved a 100 per cent collection, due to many reasons, such as individuals who avoid payment and people who have died.
Dudley Council finance chief, Councillor Anne Millward said they “did not give up” on chasing non-payers. She said: “I have signed decision sheets authorising us to continue pursuing people for the old community charge, so we are serious about getting the money in.
“We try and collect as much as we possibly can, but at the same time we have to weigh up whether the costs of pursuing someone are going to be greater that what we would be collecting.
“One of the biggest problems we face are deaths, because very often people do not leave money.
“We are not happy about the figures despite us being the best in the Black Country - we want to be the best in the country at collecting council tax.”
Sandwell’s Tory group leader, Councillor Tony Ward, said: “It is regrettable that so many people avoid paying their tax but quite frankly I honestly believe the council are trying to do their best to retrieve the situation.”
GMB trade union regional secretary Joe Morgan said nationally £739 million was not collected last year.
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