The SNP’s controversial budget has been voted through at the first stage.
The budget marks a step closer to the Scottish Borders having to pay higher taxes than their neighbours south of the border because of broken SNP manifesto promises.
Primary school teachers, nurses and policemen and women will have to pay more.
23,000 Borderers are expected to be hit by increased taxes.
The SNP Government’s plans will be a double hit to the pay packets of Borderers, if they force local authorities to increase council taxes by cutting revenue budgets.
Rachael Hamilton MSP said: "The SNP continue to break their manifesto promises and increase taxes. This is unforgivable and will hit hard-working families in the Borders.
"The SNP were elected on the promise taxes would not go up. However, we are now closer to paying higher taxes than our friends south of the Border because this SNP government have broken their manifesto pledges.
"This is an SNP Government that says one thing at election time and does the other when in power. It is not good enough. The simple truth is only the Scottish Conservatives will protect pay packets and not take hard earned money away."