Starting in April, the average council tax bill in Somerset will climb by nearly £122 annually, following the approval of Somerset Council’s latest budget. During a full council meeting held in Bridgwater on March 4, councillors voted to raise their share of the council tax by the maximum allowable increase of 4.99%, avoiding the need for a local referendum.
Additionally, both Avon and Somerset Constabulary and Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service finalized their budgets in February, contributing to further increases. Their shares of the average council tax bill will rise by £15 and £5 per year, respectively.
Most town and parish councils across Somerset have now set their budgets. When combined with the increases from the primary authorities, the total average annual rise for households comes to £121.97 – approximately £2.34 extra per week. To put this in perspective, it’s roughly the cost of a two-litre bottle of milk.
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Council tax in Somerset is calculated based on 1991 property values, placed into eight valuation bands from Band A (lowest) to Band H (highest). Band D serves as the benchmark average for tax calculations, although many households pay less, since Somerset has fewer Band D properties compared to other areas of the UK.
The total council tax bill includes contributions to four main bodies: Somerset Council, Avon and Somerset Constabulary, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, and local town or parish councils. The South West Ambulance Service and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust receive funding directly from central government and are excluded from council tax bills.
Somerset Council’s portion on a Band D property will rise by 4.99%, from £1,857.61 to £1,950.30. Of this increase, 2% is dedicated to adult social care, while the remaining 2.99% funds essential local services including waste collection, road maintenance, park care, and planning application processing.
The Avon and Somerset Constabulary share will rise by 5.12%, from £293.20 to £308.20, while the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service share increases by 4.78%, from £104.68 to £109.68.
The average town or parish council element will jump by 5.15%, going from £182.42 to £191.82. These councils fund local services like grass cutting, dog waste bin emptying, and providing seating in public spaces. Unlike other bodies, town and parish councils face no statutory cap on their annual increases, so rises can vary significantly across different areas.
Overall, for a Band D property, the total council tax bill will rise from £2,438.62 to £2,560.59—a 5% increase.
Special expenses, which appear as a separate element on council tax bills, mainly cover maintenance of closed churchyards in parts of Mendip and South Somerset. These costs have actually decreased, dropping 16.8% from 71p to 59p on average.
The Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA), established after major flooding events in 2015, manages flood prevention projects with an annual budget of over £3 million sourced from Somerset Council’s share of the council tax. The SRA cannot levy its own precept, and despite attempts to change this through legislation, it remains funded through existing council tax collections without a separate billing line.
Residents are encouraged to pay council tax by direct debit, with payment options in either 10 or 12 monthly instalments. Discounts are available for eligible households, including single occupants, those supporting children or dependents, and individuals with low weekly income. Guidance on council tax support can be found on Somerset Council’s official website.
The council is currently reviewing its council tax support scheme, balancing the need to assist vulnerable residents against budgetary constraints. Any major changes to support will likely not be implemented before April 2027 and may depend on the outcome of an ongoing judicial review related to Universal Credit support.