Rutland Council Tax Set to Rise by 2% Next Year
Money will help fund adult social care, education and local services as councillors prepare to vote on new budget
Councillors are set to vote on Rutland’s council tax rates for the coming year this evening.
Rutland County Council’s draft budget for 2026/27 proposes a 2% hike in rates – with the increase going towards adult social care.
This means the Band D rate – for an average home – will increase by £44.38 to £2,263.33 in 2026/27 from £2,218.95 last year.
Bosses backtracked on plans for an overall 3.9% increase – after the government announced it would be covering 90% of local authorities’ schools deficits.
The unexpected windfall means the council can afford to keep the council tax rise relatively low – compared to neighbouring authorities.
Budget documents reveal a ÂŁ26.9million cost for social care, while education and supporting young people with special educational needs or disabilities takes up a further ÂŁ21.2m.
Other costs highlighted in the report include ÂŁ6m for recycling, waste services and street cleaning and ÂŁ5.2m for highways and transport.
A further ÂŁ6m will be put aside as part of plans to revamp Rutland County Museum so it will ultimately be able to house the huge prehistoric ichthyosaur fossil discovered at Rutland Water in 2021.
The council faces a ÂŁ4m housing benefit bill and must also spend ÂŁ1.7m on public health. Another ÂŁ700,000 will be spent maintaining parks and open spaces while ÂŁ1.1m will go towards the culture and heritage services, including the running of Oakham Castle and Rutland County Museum.
Meanwhile ÂŁ2.6m is needed to adapt primary school classrooms and expand specialist facilities for children with social, emotional and mental health needs.
And ÂŁ1m is required to support improvements to the junction for Cold Overton Road, Barleythorpe Road, Melton Road and Station Road in Oakham.