The councillor in charge of finances for the Island is defending a controversial move to hike prices to the Isle of Wight Council's home care service.
As part of its budget plans, the local authority is proposing increasing Wightcare costs by 13 per cent in some areas.
Cllr Chris Jarman says "big choices" are having to be made. The service, which ensures Islanders can be cared for in their home, is currently operating at a loss and is running a yearly deficit of £380,000.
Asked whether the increasing costs would mean people are priced out of a vital service, Cllr Jarman said:
"We believe the majority of people will stay with the service. You also have to remember that not everybody who uses the Wightcare service pays for it. A lot of people get it as part of a care package, they don't pay anything for it at all.
"Other people get it as part of a care package which is means tested and there are a few who pay for the service wholly."
Cllr Jarman said the service has previously been subsidised by "statutory responsibilities", and that is "not the right thing to do".
He said the statutory responsibilities should be for "frontline, dire situations of need" only.
It is suggested that the proposed hike will raise £101,000 in the forthcoming year.
Proposals will be voted on at Full Council on February 23.
Watch/Listen: Isle of Wight Radio's Paul Topping speaks to Cllr Chris Jarman.
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