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
Council tax pays for local services like libraries, schools, emergency services, waste and recycling collection, streetlights, and much more.
Council tax is charged to each household in Bristol. It is based on the value of the property and not on what the household earns, so the amount of council tax you are charged depends on which property band your home is in. The band is decided by the Valuation Office. See council tax charges and bands.
Most of your council tax goes to the local authority, Bristol City Council, to spend on local services. Parts also go to the Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner and to the Avon Fire Authority.
Your final bill will be changed if you qualify for any of the council tax discounts or exemptions.
Find out more about paying the right level of council tax with GOV.UK's plain English guide to council tax.
The council also receives income from business rates and government grants, as well as fees and charges, all of which contribute towards the cost of providing council services.
Information provided with your council tax bill
The net revenue budget, which is for core day-to-day services for 2025 to 2026 is £571.5 million. The council receives around 52% of its core funding from council tax. Council tax contributes £299.3 million. The 2025 to 2026 net revenue budget also includes of £182 million in business rates income and £41.6 million in savings.
- Gross expenditure (spending on council services, schools and welfare benefits): £1,342 million (spending by schools and on benefits is largely funded by the government)
- Revenue budget (money spent on running the council and overheads): £571.5 million
- Council tax contribution: £299.3 million
- Council tax increase: 4.99% (2.99% council tax increase, 2% Adult Social Care precept)
- Avon Fire Authority increase: 5.9%
- Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner increase: 5.0%
Council services are also paid for by income from business rates, grants, service users, other organisations and our investments
Below you can see a breakdown of where all the council's money (Gross amount) will be spent and raised in the council in the 2025 to 2026 financial year.
| Directorate | Total gross budget (£m) |
|---|---|
| Children and Young people | £164.45 |
| Dedicated Schools Grant | £244.80 |
| Adult Social Care | £268.73 |
| Public Health and Communities | £76.09 |
| Homes and Housing Delivery | £191.42 |
| Transport and Connectivity | £27.26 |
| Enviornment and Sustainability | £60.04 |
| Economy and Skills | £12.51 |
| Strategy and Resources | £296.79 |
| Where generated | Total funding and income (£m) |
|---|---|
| Council Tax | £299.26 |
| Business Rates | £182.39 |
| Grants | £181.97 |
| Dedicated Schools Grant | £244.80 |
| Housing Revenue Account | £156.02 |
| Fees and Charges | £107.95 |
| Benefits | £113.74 |
| Other Income | £55.95 |
2024 to 2025
- Gross expenditure (spending on council services, schools and welfare benefits): £1,260 million (spending by schools and on benefits is largely funded by the government)
- Revenue budget (money spent on running the council and overheads): £530.1 million
- Council tax contribution: £282 million
- Council tax increase: 4.99% (2.99% council tax increase, 2% Adult Social Care precept)
- Avon Fire Authority increase: 2.9%
- Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner increase: 4.9%
2023 to 2024
- Gross expenditure: £1,188 million
- Revenue budget: £483.5 million
- Council tax contribution: £258.8 million
- Council tax increase: 4.99% (2.99% council tax increase, 2% Adult Social Care precept)
- Avon Fire Authority increase: 5.9%
- Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner increase: 6.4%
| Band | Ratio | Bristol City Council | Police and Crime Commissioner | Fire authority | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 6/9 | £1,466.84 | £194.47 | £60.29 | £1,722.59 |
| B | 7/9 | £1,711.31 | £228.04 | £70.33 | £2,009.70 |
| C | 8/9 | £1,955.79 | £260.62 | £80.38 | £2,296.80 |
| D | 9/9 | £2,200.26 | £293.20 | £90.43 | £2,583.89 |
| E | 11/9 | £2,689.21 | £358.36 | £110.53 | £3,158.08 |
| F | 13/9 | £3,178.15 | £423.51 | £130.62 | £3,732.29 |
| G | 15/9 | £3,667.10 | £488.67 | £150.72 | £4,306.47 |
| H | 18/9 | £4,400.52 | £586.40 | £180.86 | £5,167.78 |
For previous years council tax charges and bands and how to appeal if you think your band is wrong, see council tax charges and bands.
The Environment Agency (EA) and the Lower Severn Internal Drainage Board (IDB) charge the council a levy for flood defence and land drainage. The Devon and Severn Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (IFCA) charge a levy for the management of the local marine environment. The Regional Flood and Coastal Committees (RFCC) charge a levy to fund local flood and coastal priorities.
| Region | Gross expenditure (£m) | Total levy requirement (£m) | Levy on the council (£) |
|---|---|---|---|
| EA Severn and Wye RFCC | 33.4 | 1.27 | 3,335 |
| EA Wessex RFCC | 137.6 | 4.1 | 499,693 |
| Lower Severn IDB | 2.0 | 1.8 | 948,676 |
| Devon and Severn IFCA | 0.94 | 0.79 | 44,356 |
| Region | Gross expenditure (£m) | Total levy requirement (£m) | Levy on the council (£) |
|---|---|---|---|
| EA Severn and Wye RFCC | 33.6 | 1.25 | 3,297 |
| EA Wessex RFCC | 94.6 | 4.01 | 477,286 |
| Lower Severn IDB | 2.0 | 1.6 | 876,576 |
| Devon and Severn IFCA | 0.76 | 0.76 | 43,064 |
The pdf Council Tax Notice for 2024/25 (74 KB) shows the council tax bands commencing from 1 April 2024.
Get information on spending plans for the Police and fire brigade and details of how the budgets are finalised:
- pdf Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner 2024/25 (761 KB)
- pdf Avon Fire Authority: Your fire and rescue service 2024/25 (218 KB)
2023/24