Council budget

2023/2024 Budget Consultation

As a council, we're facing unprecedented financial pressures and demand for our services. Challenges bought about by the pandemic, rising energy, fuel and food prices, and inflationary increases are making it difficult for the council to balance its budget, just as it is making it difficult for individuals and households to balance theirs.

Across the country, councils are facing additional cost pressures of £2.4 billion in 2022/2023. In 2023/2024, there is a funding gap of £3.4 billion just to maintain services at pre-COVID levels.

For all these pressures to be met through council tax alone, councils across the country would have to put up council tax by 20% over the next 2 years, which is neither sustainable nor desirable given the impact of the current cost of living crisis on residents and businesses.

York is no exception to these challenges and is facing a significant budget pressure of £10 million next year.

The focus of this year’s budget is to stabilise our financial position, allowing us to continue to deliver crucial services and support to our local communities.

We will also continue our ambitious capital programme and invest in our city, from accelerating vital regeneration projects, such as York Central, to delivering new sustainable and affordable homes.

To help us make what are likely to be tough decisions, we wanted to hear what’s important to you.

Our 2023/2024 Budget Consultation closed on Monday 9 January.

Interim consultation results up to 3 January will be considered at an Executive Member Decision session on 12 January, before full results are taken to Council Executive on 26 January as part of the wider annual budget setting process.