City of York Council certainly knows how to slap its citizens in the face by hiking council taxes by four percent (Council spend plans approved, March 2). Ex-councillor Quentin Macdonald’s claim the £400k payout for the former chief executive was OK (Council boss’s payout comes from reserve fund, Letters, February 27) beggars belief now that this increase has been revealed. What worries me is that instead of our tax money going on justifiable causes like improving our flood defences, it could open different floodgates to yet more people leaving the council with large payouts. This payout cannot be justified.

It is time there was more steerage from York taxpayers as to where their hard earned money is spent.

Phil Shepherdson,

Chantry Close, York