Council Tax and budgets

Council Tax and budgets

Find out how to pay Council Tax to your local district Council and how we use the money.

We continue to listen to what is important to our residents and these priorities as well as responding to unavoidable demands in services which are reflected in our budget.

We are funding an extra £48 million for to deal with the increasing demands and cost of adults and children’s social care to protect the most vulnerable in our society.

At the same time, we are investing in the things that residents tell us are important and need improving, such as better roads and pavements, tackling congestion and improving public transport.

While the level of council tax is increasing by 4.99% this year due to pressures in demand led services, the level of our council tax to one of the lowest of any County Council in the country. The increase is equivalent to £1.48 per week for a band D property.

Total Spend in 2025/2026

  • Adult Social Care, Public Health and Communities £408m
  • Children's Services (including schools) £465m
  • Economy, Infrastructure, Environment and Transport £179m
  • Corporate Services, including finance, legal and cost of borrowing £95m
  • Total spend: £1,147m

In response to what you have told us, we are investing

  • a total of £64m to improve roads and pavements, including flood alleviation
  • £322m to support those who need Adult Social Care
  • £168m to improve the lives of children and young people
  • £86m to support people to live independently for longer through Public Health and Communities

Where the money comes from to pay for the 2025 to 2026 Budget

The majority of the Council’s funding is from Council Tax income and the County area is allowed to keep up to 50% of the business rate growth collected in Worcestershire since the introduction of the Business Rates Retention Scheme in April 2013.

The cost of providing our services in 2025/26, net of specific grants and use of one-off reserves, is £495.6 million which has increased by £62.2 million from the previous year. Significant cost pressures in respect of inflation and increases in the demand and cost of providing services for children’s and adult social care and home to school transport are the main reasons for this increase, some of which are significantly higher than the general rate of inflation or the income we receive from which is essentially fixed in from council tax and government funding. Part of the increase in 2025/26 will be funded by Exceptional Financial Support (EFS) of £33.6 million in 2025/26. This process exists to support councils facing unmanageable financial pressures. This government understands that fragility in the system has left some councils in difficult positions and recognises that support is required in some circumstances to balance budgets. 

Summary of net budget for 2025/2026

  • £183m - Adult social care, Public Health and Communities
  • £107m - Children’s Services
  • £89m - Economy and Infrastructure
  • £44m - Home to School Transport
  • £73m - Support services including finance and legal
  • £496m - Net Budget Requirement

How to pay your Council Tax

Each Council Tax year runs from 1 April to 31 March. Before the start of each Council Tax year, your district council will send you a single bill which details the amount of Council Tax you owe. 

You will not receive a separate bill from Worcestershire County Council for its portion of your Council Tax.

Find more details of the Council Tax billing and collection arrangements for each district council:

Contact District Council

Council tax budget leaflets

More detail is available on how the money is spent including a summary of gross expenditure, income and staffing.

Council tax bands

You can check your council tax band via the Government Council Tax Bands page.

Budget books

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