CHESHIRE's Tory leaders renewed their pledge to balance taxpayers' service needs and their ability to pay.
Leader Paul Findlow, Deputy David Rowlands and Alan Richardson, chairman of the Performance and Overview Committee, pledged continued support for the policy before a council facing a serious funding shortfall.
Councillor Findlow said: 'Since we were elected in June 2001 we have managed to record the second lowest council tax rises of any English shire whilst at the same time investing a record £136m in services.
'We intend to maintain that despite the growing funding difficulties that face local government across this country.'
Cheshire, like many counties, faces a funding shortfall of £50m over the next four years - of which an estimated £14.8m will be faced in the financial year 2007-8.
In the last budget a £15m shortfall was met with over £5m of savings including increased charges for services.
Particularly unpopular was the 78% rise in charges for home care from £9.26 to £16.46 per hour, with day care increasing 87%, from £13.37 to £25.
