Brighton Council Approves Tax Hike
What happened
Councillors in Brighton and Hove have voted to increase the local council tax by 4.99 per cent. The decision was made during a recent council meeting and will directly affect the financial obligations of residents in the English coastal city.
Why it matters
The 4.99% increase is the maximum legally permitted without a local referendum and is composed of a 2.99% rise for general services and a 2% levy specifically for adult social care. For the average Band D property, this will mean an annual bill of £2,579.44, an increase of just over £10 per month. Council Leader Bella Sankey stated the hike was necessary to place the council on a "sustainable financial footing." The authority faced an initial £25 million budget gap for the upcoming year and has some of the lowest reserves of any unitary authority in the country. Alongside the tax rise, the Labour-led council has also requested £15 million in "exceptional financial support" from the government to manage pressures on services. The budget aims to deliver £12.4 million in savings while launching a transformation program to close the medium-term financial gap. Housing is a central focus of the new £1 billion budget, with £112 million allocated to build and purchase new homes to address the city's housing crisis. A further £10 million has been earmarked for road and pothole repairs. Council tax itself is expected to generate around £210 million, with the bulk of the council's budget coming from government grants, business rates, and other fees and charges. The move by Brighton and Hove is not unique; 119 of 153 top-tier local authorities in England had either proposed or confirmed a 4.99% council tax rise for the 2026/27 fiscal year.
Key numbers
- Councillors in Brighton and Hove have voted to increase the local council tax by 4.99 per cent.
- The 4.99% increase is the maximum legally permitted without a local referendum and is composed of a 2.99% rise for general services and a 2% levy specifically for adult social care.
- For the average Band D property, this will mean an annual bill of £2,579.44, an increase of just over £10 per month.
- Alongside the tax rise, the Labour-led council has also requested £15 million in "exceptional financial support" from the government to manage pressures on services.
What happens next
- For the average Band D property, this will mean an annual bill of £2,579.44, an increase of just over £10 per month.
- The budget aims to deliver £12.4 million in savings while launching a transformation program to close the medium-term financial gap.
- Council tax itself is expected to generate around £210 million, with the bulk of the council's budget coming from government grants, business rates, and other fees and charges.
Quick answers
What happened in Brighton Council Approves Tax Hike?
Councillors in Brighton and Hove have voted to increase the local council tax by 4.99 per cent. The decision was made during a recent council meeting and will directly affect the financial obligations of residents in the English coastal city.
Why does Brighton Council Approves Tax Hike matter?
The 4.99% increase is the maximum legally permitted without a local referendum and is composed of a 2.99% rise for general services and a 2% levy specifically for adult social care. For the average Band D property, this will mean an annual bill of £2,579.44, an increase of just over £10 per month. Council Leader Bella Sankey stated the hike was necessary to place the council on a "sustainable financial footing." The authority faced an initial £25 million budget gap for the upcoming year and has some of the lowest reserves of any unitary authority in the country. Alongside the tax rise, the Labour-led council has also requested £15 million in "exceptional financial support" from the government to manage pressures on services. The budget aims to deliver £12.4 million in savings while launching a transformation program to close the medium-term financial gap. Housing is a central focus of the new £1 billion budget, with £112 million allocated to build and purchase new homes to address the city's housing crisis. A further £10 million has been earmarked for road and pothole repairs. Council tax itself is expected to generate around £210 million, with the bulk of the council's budget coming from government grants, business rates, and other fees and charges. The move by Brighton and Hove is not unique; 119 of 153 top-tier local authorities in England had either proposed or confirmed a 4.99% council tax rise for the 2026/27 fiscal year.
