Barrow residents are faced with a budget riddle as they are asked whether they want a council tax rise or cuts to services. Town hall bosses are planning the 2020-21 budget and will launch a public consultation before making a decision in February next year. Here is your view...

Kat Leatherbarrow said: “What I’d like is for the rich to pay their fair share of taxes and what I’d also like is for big corporations like Amazon and Starbucks to pay their taxes too.”

Claire Hill said: “If they put another £5 a year on our council tax could they dig deep to buy Dalton residents some new Christmas lights as the one’s we have are an embarrassment to our town they must be over 20 years old they look outdated and tatty and half don’t work.”

Tommy Clubvaux said: “The only reason they’re asking now is the illusion of choice, there isn’t any services left to cut from so by asking it appears we’ve made the choice to pay more when in fact, it’s the only achievable option left. I’m sure council wages, expenses and bonuses won’t be cut back.”

Jonny Swift said: “By the way it is worth pointing out that’s it’s only a tax rise for the (super) richest 5% of the country - hardly many of which probably don’t live around these parts! Small price to pay to get our much needed public services up and running properly again.”

Tim Lewthwaite said: “Central Govt should make the rich pay their fair share from now on so local councils don’t have to make these kinds of choices.”

Darren Atkinson said: “I’d happily pay an extra £50 a year, so long as it is spent wisely, and not on vanity projects, legal bills, leaders wage increases, etc.”

Col Whittall said: “It will be both no matter what we want!”

Sue Hollingsworth said: “Maybe the council shouldn’t have taken on extra staff and then that would save on wages.”