Sark’s government could raise taxes and fees next year to increase spending by around 14% to fund essential public services, including maintenance to La Coupee.
Personal capital taxes would increase significantly if Chief Pleas, the island’s parliament, backs budget proposals from the Policy & Finance Committee.
Total spending would rise to just over £2.5m, but the island still expects to make a surplus of around £30,000 next year.
The main projects behind the spending increase include £152,000 on La Coupee, £27,000 in social costs, £40,000 for locum GP and paramedic services, and £20,000 to develop a strategic plan for the island.
To service these minimum personal tax would increase from £81 to £630, while the maximum would be upped from £1,646 to £12,619.
There are modest increases to property and landing taxes, while new plans for personal capital taxes and the island strategy are planned to be drawn up next year.
The cost of a licence fee to own a tractor would also be doubled to £300 under plans being brought by the Douizaine Committee, as well as inflation-linked increases to licence a bicycle and a horse.
Chief Pleas is also expecting increased property sales after a poor year for revenues from property transfer taxes.
Conseiller John Guille, Chair of Policy & Finance, said: “the island faces several significant challenges, such as, La Coupee, rockfall at the harbour, waste disposal and sewage.
“On these, the Policy & Finance Committee has worked with the Douzaine to prioritise a programme of work over the next few years, whilst also working to steadily increase our reserves.”
Conseiller Mike Locke, Chair of the Douzaine, noted “the Douzaine is aware of much work that needs to be done as part of its service to the island, both this coming year and in future years.
“As well as the well known planned stabilisation works on La Coupée and the cliffs around the harbour, including the harbour quarry, work is needed to bring the roads up to a better standard, to repair the public areas of the Old Island Hall, and to improve the facilities for sewage and rubbish disposal.
“The income from our road users such as tractor drivers is around half what it costs to maintain Sark’s public roads, which means that the rest of the costs must be covered from other revenues such as general taxation.”
P&F also expects the takeover of Sark Electricity Limited to be completed in 2026.