Council tax charges are determined through the Council Budget, by considering our expected expenditure and our required savings for the current financial year (2025 to 2026).
Pence in the pound
Our gross expenditure for the current financial year is £565.383 million, an increase from £558.853 million in 2024 to 2025, it's broken down as follows:
| Areas of expenditure (excluding Benefits and Schools) | Pence in the pound |
|---|---|
| Adult Care | 38 |
| Children, Young people and Education | 26 |
| Council Support and Public Engagement | 1 |
| Culture and Leisure | 3 |
| Environment, Waste and Regulatory Services | 9 |
| Housing and Homelessness | 3 |
| Transport, Highways and Planning | 6 |
| Supporting Capital Investment | 14 |
The 2025/26 budget outlines some significant investment into both adults and children’s social care to enable us to continue delivering vital support to our most vulnerable residents. This essential funding delivers a financially sound budget, that reflects current pressures, whilst also ensuring a safe and effective service can be delivered across all statutory care services.
Annual council tax changes
In total the amount collected through council tax will rise this year by 4.99%. This will be made up of changes to the government Adult Social Care Precept, as well as the basic council tax rate:
- the government Adult Social Care Precept will be set at 2%
- there will be a 2.99% increase in basic council tax
The amount raised though council tax charges this year will be £120.180 million (an increase from £113.927 million in 2024/2025).
We’re raising an additional £1.119 million from charges in Parish Council areas (an increase from £0.999 million in 2024/2025).
The Adult Social Care Precept will be spent exclusively on adult social care. York continues to face increased pressures including the costs of adult social care.
Police and fire precepts, which contribute towards the costs of emergency services in our area, will also have an impact on council tax. The level of the police and fire precept charge varies according to the charges in Parish Council areas.
Your council tax payments
If you’re struggling with your council tax payments, you can spread the cost of your bill over 12 months rather than 10.
See further information about your council tax, or find out if you're eligible for any help with council tax for your household.
Also see
Council Tax appointments
To get council tax advice in person at West Offices, you need to make an appointment.