Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue increasing council tax by £5
The service has set its Budget for the next financial year
Last updated 7th Feb 2025
Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service will raise council tax by £5 for the average home from April.
It's to help deal with what they're calling 'ongoing financial uncertainty', as they ask residents for the maximum increase allowed.
The service say they're trying to 'demonstrate high levels of value for money', with overall precept working out as £91.95 a year for a Band D property.
The service has approved a £76.4 million budget for the next financial year.
Chief Fire Officer Andy Cole QFSM said: "Balancing the budget for 2025-26 has been challenging. Despite a strong track record of finding savings and demonstrating high levels of value for money, future funding remains a concern for the Service.
"Even with the £5 precept flexibility offered to all Fire & Rescue Services, we will need to keep working on our Resourcing and Saving Programme (RSP) to make sure we continue serving the communities of Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole, Dorset, Swindon, and Wiltshire in the best way possible."
Cllr Paul Oatway QPM, Chair of Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Authority, said:
“Members agreed that taking the opportunity to increase the council tax precept by £5 was the only viable option in the face of the ongoing financial uncertainty. We know that any increase is difficult for our residents, but our council tax level remains below the national average, and we strongly believe that our fire and rescue service provide excellent value for money.”