AS we step gingerly into the economic uncertainty of 2010, electioneering is under way in earnest.

Nationally, David Cameron is trying to convince us all that the NHS will be his priority while Labour says there's a £34bn gap in how the promises will be paid for.

Locally, Darlington Borough Council is proposing a council tax freeze despite the impending squeeze on public sector spending.

The tax freeze will be a popular move. There is, after all, a general election this year and local elections in Darlington the year after.

But there is, of course, a price to be paid. The less income coming in, the more cuts that will have to be made to balance the books.

Darlington's proposed council tax freeze comes with the need to save £4.7m in cuts, including 77 jobs.

There's certainly more fat to cut in the public sector than there is in the private sector. Nevertheless, there are still difficult decisions to be made.

A council tax freeze is welcome for local people and businesses in a town like Darlington.

The trick for our leaders - both nationally and locally - is how to save costs without cutting front-line services which matter most to people.