COUNCIL tax payers on Wearside are facing a 4.8 per cent rise in their bills from April.
Sunderland City Council plans to agree to the increase, which would add 68p to the weekly bill - £35 a year - for people in Band A properties.
Council leader Bob Symonds said he believed it represented good value for money, leaving Sunderland with the lowest bill of the five metropolitan council areas of Tyne and Wear.
"Once again, Sunderland taxpayers will be paying the lowest council tax in Tyne and Wear," he said.
"I believe we are moving the city forward. This is a modest increase covering some schemes we are considering in the city.
"We do believe it represents good value for money for a modest increase."
He said extra money would be invested in social services and education, while it would allow the council to catch up on a backlog in highway maintenance.
The bills will apply across the council area, from inner-city Sunderland to Washington and to the former Durham coalfield communities, from Shiney Row to Houghton-le-Spring, Hetton-le-Hole and Easington Lane.
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