Christmas trees set for axe as council unveils another tax hike in latest spending plans
Last updated 18th Feb 2026
Council tax bills in the Borders are set to increase by 8.5 per cent in April.
That's higher than the five per cent originally projected and works out at more than £126 a year for a Band D property.
This is on top of steep rent rises and follows a 10 per cent hike in council tax the year before.
But local authority leader Euan Jardine says it's the equivalent of less than £2.50 a week and will help protect frontline services.
He told Greatest Hits Radio: "These are difficult decisions, and we had a look at services that potentially we could have cut - things we could have been closing; but we decided that the 8.5 per cent was the way forward, in terms of protecting core services, maintaining services and also investing in services."
The council revealed 43 per cent of residents receive a council tax discount or exemption.
But the SNP - who sit in opposition - plan to challenge the budget when councillors meet next week.
They claim limiting the increase in council tax to seven per cent would help struggling households save more than a million pounds.
The nationalists, who sit in opposition at the council, are also suggesting a visitor levy could be introduced on overnight stays in a bid to cap any rise; while they also want a new post to be created to help communities who want to take on the running of pools and public halls which have been threatened with closure.
Councillor Elaine Thornton-Nicol told us: "I think it's really important that the second homes council tax and the empty homes council tax is used to hold down the actual council tax rises. We are convinced we have the right numbers and we will be in a position to present something that's better for the people of the Borders."
Among the savings being proposed ahead of next week's budget meeting, the Conservative-led administration aims to save £13,000 by stopping the provision of taxpayer-funded Christmas trees, which have been gifted to communities over the festive season.
Vacancies amounting to 27.5 full time equivalent posts are also set to be axed.
The cost of burials in the Borders is set to increase by more than 50 per cent - from just over £1,100 to almost £1,700.
There are further hikes proposed to the cost of school meals, hiring a sports pitch and disposal of bulky waste.
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