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Walsall set to cut 281 jobs and nine libraries
281 jobs are expected to be axed at Walsall Council, along with nine libraries, under budget proposals announced by the authority.
The the Labour-Lib Dem coalition authority proposal also includes a call to increase council tax by 4.99 per cent.
The authority has said it needs to make £86 million in savings by 2020.
The council maintained that the 281 job losses will be made up of voluntary and compulsory redundancies, while libraries in Beechdale, Blakenall, New Invention, Pelsall, Pleck, Pheasey, Rushall, South Walsall and Walsall Wood are due to close.
The council assured that it will retain six libraries with a new community library is planned for Streetly.
Other budget plans include increasing council tax for Band D properties to £1,744.04, including precepts - subject to confirmation of final precepts - up from £1663.29.
Council leader Sean Coughlan commented: "Every political side knew we had to do something about libraries and that's what we have had to do. We have faced the biggest cuts this council's ever had before."
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