Local Council Solves Budget Crisis by Introducing Tax on Complaining About Council Tax

Facing a budget black hole, a local council has pioneered a groundbreaking fiscal strategy: a new tax levied directly on residents who complain about their council tax.

The “Feedback and Fiscal Responsibility Levy,” announced this morning, is being hailed by the council as a masterstroke in public finance. “We’ve created a perfectly closed financial loop,” explained the Council Leader, speaking from a newly refurbished town hall office. “The more our residents express their concerns about our spending, the more funding we have to spend. It’s genius.”

The new tax operates on a tiered system:

• Tier 1 (£5): A loud sigh upon opening a council tax bill.
• Tier 2 (£25): A tut or muttered comment within earshot of a council official.
• Tier 3 (£150): A strongly-worded email or social media post.

“We see feedback as a premium service,” the Council Leader added. “And premium services have a cost. This ensures that only the most committed residents will share their valuable, and now taxable, opinions.”

One resident was among the first to be charged after being overheard saying, “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“I complained about the tax on complaining, and they sent me another bill for that,” a bewildered resident said. “I’m afraid to even think about it now.”

The council has confirmed that a further administrative fee will be applied to anyone wishing to appeal the new tax.