The response of the administration of Brighton and Hove City Council to the crisis in local government funding is unbelievably juvenile.

We elect councillors to make decisions on our behalf, however difficult they may be: it is their legal responsibility.

Instead, we are faced with an administration – the only one in the country – calling a referendum on yet another council tax increase, the cost of which will add a further bill of at least £1 for city taxpayers.

I have two questions for councillors. Firstly, why are they the only council in the country asking for a tax increase that amounts to twice the rate of inflation?

Secondly, are they really saying they can’t make any efficiency savings on council accommodation or  senior officers’ salaries to meet the budget shortfall?

And can they tell us why poorer councils with much greater social needs in inner London, for example, have managed no council tax increases for the past three years?

Of course, it is difficult to implement cuts but surely one cannot add to the cost-of-living crisis by adding more pressure on taxpayers.

In tough times, a city deserves councillors who can make tough decisions and not flinch from their responsibilities.

If they can’t do so then at least step down and allow a more mature group to take over.

Stop treating the council chamber as a kindergarten, which has made Brighton and Hove a laughing stock.

Darryl Telles, Norfolk Square, Brighton

Enough is enough. Why doesn’t council leader Jason Kitcat just go, with his Greenies following behind him?

Is there anyone out there who still supports him and his Green destroyers?

Sharon Daye, The Cliff, Roedean

May I voice my objection to any rise in council tax.

Jason Kitcat has nothing to lose with a vain proposal to increase tax by 4.75% because the Greens are lame ducks. They know they will be out in 2015.

I refuse to pay towards a huge budget to deal with non-taxpaying travellers. How about spending £700,000 on social adult care instead of “travellers”?

As an aside, I hear police and crime commissioner Katy Bourne is also seeking an increment in the quantum of tax for Sussex Police.

The reason given is, I am told, “cyber crime” – I thought the new NCA was dealing with that.

Was the money spent on policing Balcombe worth it?

Brighton and Hove councillors will no doubt block this proposal next month. Readers need not be Mystic Meg to guess the result of a referendum in any case.

Marion Bidwell, Fourth Avenue, Hove

Am I missing something here? The council wishes to put up council tax by 4.75% and, at the same time, put £36 million into an unnecessary seafront tower.

Where is the logic or common sense?

Lara Jay, Eastern Road, Brighton

We already pay a high rate in council tax and this rise is totally against the Government’s recommended rise for 2014/15.

The Green Party has been a total disaster since being voted in – not by me, I hasten to add.

I think we should stick to the Government guidelines – our bills are high enough without being increased so dramatically.

Jan Whiting, Eaton Gardens, Hove

Instead of shredding £230,000 of taxpayers’ money on a referendum asking if we agree to an increase of 4.75% in our council tax (like turkeys voting for Christmas, guaranteed to get a massive thumbs down), the money would be far better spent on a referendum asking if we agree the Green Party is making a complete mess of governing and should resign.

Dave Bonwick, Graham Crescent, Portslade

Just what planet is this Green council living on?

On your front page of January 18 we had the headline “£36 million backing for the i360” and on the inside page Jason Kitcat wants to spend a further £230,000 on a referendum asking us to back a 4.75% rise in our council tax this year.

Quite frankly, I wouldn’t put him in charge of a child’s piggy bank. Does he think Brighton’s electorate has endlessly deep pockets?

He might get quite a shock when the council next comes up for election.

Mrs B Rittman, Somerset Street, Brighton