Buckinghamshire Council has approved a balanced budget for the 2026/27 financial year, setting out council tax increases and further savings plans amid changes to national funding arrangements.
The budget was agreed at a meeting of the full council. By law, local authorities must set a balanced budget each year.
Impact of National Funding Review
Under the Government’s Fair Funding Review, the council says Buckinghamshire will receive £44.5 million less funding as resources are redistributed to other parts of the country assessed as having higher levels of need.
Council leaders have argued that the revised formula reduces both government grant funding and the proportion of business rates retained locally. The government has said the review aims to allocate funding more in line with relative demand for services across England.
Savings Since Becoming a Unitary Authority
Since Buckinghamshire Council was formed as a unitary authority in 2020, it reports making £116.8 million in savings during its first five years.
A further £70.5 million in savings is expected by the end of 2025/26, with an additional £109 million identified over the following three years. If delivered in full, total savings since 2020 would reach £296 million — equivalent to around 67% of the council’s annual budget when it was established.
The council states that savings have been achieved through service redesign, efficiency measures and cost reductions.
Council Tax Increase
From 1 April 2026:
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The basic rate of council tax will rise by 2.99%
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The Adult Social Care precept will increase by 2%
This results in a combined rise of 4.99%, adding approximately £1.86 per week for a Band D household in 2026/27.
The council said its overall “core spending power” — as calculated under the government funding formula — is expected to increase by 8.2% over the next three years. Nationally, the average increase is 15.5%, according to figures cited by the authority.
Spending Priorities
The budget maintains funding for statutory services, including adult and children’s social care. It also includes continued investment in highways maintenance, waste collection services, and education provision, including special educational needs support.
Some additional government grants have been confirmed, though these are ringfenced for specific purposes.
Financial Outlook
Council leaders said further financial pressures are expected in coming years due to demand for statutory services and wider economic conditions. Additional savings have already been identified as part of medium-term financial planning.
The approved budget sets the council’s financial framework for 2026/27, with longer-term savings and investment plans extending through to 2029.
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