THE average council tax bill in Salford is set to rise by £100 as part of a bid to improve the city.

Councillors in Salford are being asked to endorse an 8.6 per cent increase which would put £100 a year on a Band D property -- the average valuation banding.

Salford Council chiefs say the 2003 budget will make the area a "city of choice", despite the impact on its tax base of a dropping population. The city's schools could see the biggest slice of funding, with a boost of £8.2m.