COUNCIL tax dodgers in Hampshire got away without paying more than £18m last year, the Daily Echo can reveal.
The outstanding cash is enough to pay for a new secondary school, ten primary schools, build almost two miles of dual carriageway, or replace more than 3,500 street lights.
Council finance chiefs are now chasing the debt through the courts although admit some will be written off.
Government statistics show Southampton City Council had the second worst collection record in Hampshire in 2006/7 behind south coast rivals Portsmouth.
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