West Yorkshire residents are being urged to help set the policing budget for the coming year.

Local communities are being asked for their views on the cost of policing and if they feel they are getting value for money. The consultations will be used by West Yorkshire Police Authority to help it set its budget for the 2011-2012 financial year.

The authority is using an e-survey to find out how people feel about the cost of police resources, what they see as a priority and suggestions for how financial challenges can be met.

Taxpayers contribute towards the cost of the police service through a police precept on the council tax. By law the authority has to set the budget and agree how much to raise local council tax.

The current Band D average council tax for policing in West Yorkshire is £130.50 per year, or £2.50 a week. Most people are in the lowest Bands A and B, paying £87 and £101.50 respectively.

Police authority chairman Councillor Mark Burns Williamson said: “We received some excellent feedback through the e-survey last year and it helped us create the current budget through informed decisions.

“We know there are big financial challenges ahead, but we are committed to maintaining frontline services as far as possible and offering the best value for money we can, whilst ensuring the high standards of policing remain.

“The authority understands the impact of council tax bills on household budgets which is why it is important to get some feedback before the budget is set. However, the overall financial situation is very different this time and hopefully the survey does help to put this in context.”

The budget will be announced at a full Police Authority meeting next month.

To fill in the survey, visit wypa.org. The closing date for submissions is Sunday, January 16.