THREE million plus pounds is a great deal of money in most people’s book.

And when it is owed by by those who can’t or won’t pay their council tax, it is even more galling.

Especially for all those who do pay it come hell or high water.

Now it is probably the case, that because of zero contract-type jobs or low pay in general, some residents of Weymouth and beyond cannot stump up the necessary cash each and every month to pay their share of the council tax.

Putting food on the table or paying their rent is a far bigger priority.

And many of us who do pay their council tax every month year in and year out, will no doubt sympathise with this causal action.

However, it has to be said, that there are some other people who would rather buy or rent expensive "smart-phones" etc than pay their council tax each month.

For these people missing the odd council tax payment here and there is acceptable.

Their financial priorities are different than they are for the rest of us. Entertainment of one sort of the other comes first.

Their financial commitments come a close second.

How this continuing dilemma can be resolved is a moot point.

But some way has to be found to stop the year-on-year shortfall of council tax payments.

Where Most pay, and many don’t. Of course, one solution, would be to sweep away the present structure of collecting council tax and bring forward a system whereby everybody pays.

And a system that does not extract money from those who obviously cannot afford to pay it.

A taxation structure that does not allow a few people to abuse it for their own selfish needs. Because they can and do.

ANDREW MARTIN

Abbotsbury Road,

Weymouth