Residents set for five per cent tax rise

Staffordshire County Council is increasing taxes to help it balance the books

Residents in Staffordshire face a 4.99% tax increase from the county council next year.

The proposed increase will equate to an extra £77 for a Band D property, and aims to help Staffordshire County Council balance its budget.

Council leaders insisted “good financial management” had left the authority in a better position than many others, but added they still had to find more than £18m of savings.

Proposed efficiencies include reducing the spend on children’s care placements by £2m and a review of extra care funding, which is expected to save £360,000 next year.

The council’s draft budget for 2025/26, including the council tax increase, will be subject to consultation before being decided on in February.

Councillor Ian Parry, cabinet member for finance and resources, said the council’s “stable” financial position meant it could continue investing in country parks and libraries, and allow a £45m spend on highways over three years.

“In a time when virtually no councils have done this, we’ve found headroom to invest in supporting communities and people’s quality of life,” he said.

“It’s not just all about the mundane council services, it’s about trying to support our residents with things that add to the quality of life.”

Councillor Ian Parry said a “stable” financial position meant the council could continue investing in libraries and country parks

The proposed council tax increase – the maximum allowed without a referendum – will include a 2% social care precept, with more than two thirds of the authority’s spending now going towards vulnerable children and adults.

Mr Parry added the council’s leaders were “very much aware” of the impact of the tax rise on people’s finances, but that Staffordshire had one of the lowest council tax levels among shire counties.

“We are one of the lowest and always have been. We strive to keep it as low as possible,” he said.

Balancing the budget in 2025/26 will require the use of almost £10m from reserves, as well as nearly £7m from health and care reserves – although council chiefs said this would not be sustainable beyond 2028/29, with “significant” budget gaps expected in coming years.

Council bosses will discuss the budget proposals when they meet on 11 December.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.