Contents

Message from the Leader of the council
How we spend your council tax
Budget 2025 to 2026
Council tax charges by band 2025/26
Levies on the council
Council tax notice
Emergency services

Message from the Leader of the council

We are committed to using public money in the best way to improve our city. This year, after taking into account changes to council tax, business rates, and government funding, we face a big challenge to live within our budget. To balance it, we need to save an extra £41.6 million in the 2025 to 2026 financial year. To do this we have had to make tough decisions for the long term. We don't take this responsibility lightly, but we need to make sure Bristol stays financially stable whilst still investing in the essential services our city needs.

Your council tax increase of 4.99% is helping to make sure we can continue running the services people in our city value, that our services are run fairly and help is provided when you need it. We are also changing how some of our services are run to save money and increase income. This budget is investing around £70 million of extra funding to put back into vital areas such as social care and education, including building the city's first Youth Zone in South Bristol, a youth centre for young people aged between eight and 19, or up to 25 for those with additional needs, as well as support services for the elderly and Disabled people, and new homes for children in care.

We are investing in building new homes, raising standards in existing council housing, repairing roads and bridges, introducing new bus routes, cycle routes and walkways, and putting funding into our school buildings.

We work hard to make sure every pound has maximum impact for our city. Over the next year, we are going to:

  • Review how some of our important services can be run differently for example thinking about how to manage valued services like museums and libraries.
  • Build a sustainable future targeting projects which will help us in the long term, such as Bristol City Leap, which is set to invest £771 million in clean energy, and will create jobs and cut carbon emissions.
  • Look at ways to reduce costs such as saving money on energy costs across council buildings.

We know that asking people to pay more puts a burden on households. The Council Tax Reduction Scheme currently helps 32,000 households that are on low incomes, out of work, or retired to pay their council tax. If you need help, please call us on 0117 922 2300 or you can find out more on the Council Tax Reduction Scheme webpage.

I know these are tough times for many people in Bristol. I hope this budget will be the first step towards building a fairer and more sustainable future for the city. I am committed to working with all of our communities to achieve this.

Cllr Tony Dyer
Leader, Bristol City Council

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