Your council tax helps to pay for many of our city's vital services. We want to make our services the best we possibly can and provide you with excellent value for money.

Council tax is not a direct payment for services and is therefore payable whether or not those services are actually used.

The council tax is a local tax set by councils to help pay for local services. There is one bill per dwelling, whether it is a house, bungalow, flat, maisonette, mobile home or houseboat, and whether it is owned or rented. Council tax usually goes to pay for services provided to residents by the local councils such as refuse collection, education and social services.

To find out where your council tax money goes please see our March 2009 Prestonian Council Tax special. When you download the magazine, pages 7 - 10 give details on council tax and page 9 explains what you get for your money from Preston City Council.

If you have a question about your council tax bill, check out our council tax FAQs.