News / budget
Consultation to decide share in council tax is open
The council is giving people the chance to decide how much money they will be adding to their council tax bill, in a budget consultation for 2025-2026.
The budget consultation for the incoming year asks people for their views on different council tax levels and how each would affect their own tax bills.
Opening the consultation to the public on Thursday, the council said: “Every year, the council must agree a legal and balanced budget that sets out how much we intend to spend in the coming year and how we propose to raise the money needed to pay for these spending plans.
is needed now More than ever
“This consultation seeks your views on the level of council tax and social care precept for the coming year (2025/26). These are two of the ways we can fund the services the council provides.
The Budget consultation is open.
Every year the council must agree a legal and balanced budget that sets out how much we intend to spend in the coming year and how we propose to raise the necessary income to meet these spending plans.
Share your views: https://t.co/CX8KJyjZ4H pic.twitter.com/4Cy9rS6cVW
— Bristol City Council (@BristolCouncil) November 7, 2024
They continued: “This year, Bristol continues to face an intense funding crisis, with a budget gap projected at £51.6 million for 2025/26.
“Bristol’s growing and ageing population means more people need our help and the costs of providing services have risen again due to high inflation and interest rates.
“At the same time, funding for council services from central government has been falling for 14 years.
“This is the difficult picture seen in councils across the country.
“The proposals in this consultation for council tax and social care precept will not be enough on their own to be able to set a balanced budget, so we are working hard to identify other ways we can do this.”
The council also hinted that they might have to make some “hard choices” including increasing the council tax more than in previous years, to help avert the crisis.
The consultation can be accessed from the council’s official website and will help include the public’s voice in their decision-making.
Talking about the financial situation of the council, they said: “We have referred to a budget gap of £51.6 million.
“This is the remaining gap if we raise Council Tax by 3 per cent and Social Care Precept at 2 per cent.
“If we don’t make these increases, then the funding gap for our services will be greater than the £51.6 million discussed throughout this consultation, and further reductions and savings proposals will be needed to set a balanced budget.
“We have also included options for a council tax increase of more than 3 per cent and social care precept at more than 2 per cent in case the government permits this. These options would reduce the current budget gap of £51.6 million.
“The final decision on the levels of council tax and social care precept for 2025/26 will be decided by full council in February 2025 and will take into account the outcome of this consultation.
Main photo: Karen Johnson
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