Council taxes are giving families a new financial worry as the yearly bills arrive with one of the largest increases in two decades.
"It's more than our utilities now," former teacher Sylvia Stevenson said of her April statement in Swansea, where the average council tax is up 6.2% for 2025-26.
The 7.2% average uplift for all councils is the second largest since 2003, with the 8.7% rise in Conwy county called "diabolical" by one resident.
The Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) said even with increased taxes, "intense financial pressures" mean councils are cutting spending.
"We knew it would go up but at the same time we thought, 'gosh, that has gone up more than what we thought it would'," said Sylvia's husband Ian.
She said despite paying more, there are still potholes on roads and no wheelie bins for rubbish and recycling.
