COUNCIL tax benefit claimants will have to pay ten per cent more next year, leading to claims the poor are being targeted.
A new charging system is being introduced in Reigate and Banstead from April to help fill a £700,000 hole in the council's coffers – the result of a funding cut from Government.
An extra £263,000 of that will be recovered by cutting back council tax support.
The Green Party and Lib Dem groups on the council say extra income from scrapping tax discounts for empty or second homes – which could generate an extra £1 million – will more than make up for the funding deficit.
Green Party councillor Jonathan Essex said: "Local Tory councillors showed their true colours by voting for a cut that will hit poor people hardest, even though they didn't need to.
"Our council will have more money after the various council tax changes, not less."
Lib Dem councillor Steve Kulka added: "This is just the latest example of the cynical local Tory tax strategy.
"No rises for years when there are borough elections that may affect votes, then squeeze the poorest when there aren't."
But Councillor Julian Ellacott, executive member for welfare, said: "We cannot rely on all of that [empty homes] money coming in.
"What we want is for those empty homes to come back into use, so very quickly we will find we won't get that extra money in our budget.
"Any money that we do get will come into the general pot."
The council tax changes include: a minimum charge of ten per cent for all residents, reducing the backdated period for which benefit can be claimed and abolishing the second adult rebate for working age claimants. Disabled people and pensioners are exempt from the changes.