Somerset residents will face an average council tax increase of nearly £122 per year starting April 2026, following the approval of Somerset Council’s annual budget. The council confirmed this rise during a full-day meeting held in Bridgwater on March 4, with councillors voting to raise their portion of council tax by the maximum permitted 4.99%, avoiding the need for a local referendum.
Alongside Somerset Council’s increase, other key public services have also adjusted their budgets. Avon and Somerset Constabulary’s segment of the bill will jump by £15, while Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service’s share will rise by £5 annually.
Most town and parish councils in Somerset have finalized their budgets too. Combined, the total average council tax bill across the county will rise by £121.97 each year—roughly £2.34 per week, about the cost of a two-litre milk bottle.
Council tax bands are based on property values from 1991, ranging from Band A (small flats and modest homes) to Band H (large country houses). Band D is used as the benchmark for the average bill, although many properties fall below this.
Council tax is divided among four main entities: Somerset Council, Avon and Somerset Constabulary, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, and local town or parish councils, with Somerset Council receiving the lion’s share.
For 2026/27, Somerset Council’s slice of a Band D bill will rise from £1,857.61 to £1,950.30, a 4.99% increase. Of this, 2% is earmarked for adult social care, while the remaining 2.99% funds services ranging from waste collection to road maintenance and park upkeep.
The police share will increase from £293.20 to £308.20 per Band D property—a 5.12% rise—while fire services will see a 4.78% uplift from £104.68 to £109.68. Meanwhile, funding for town and parish councils will grow by 5.15%, from £182.42 to £191.82 on average, covering local amenities such as grass cutting and public seating.
Unlike other bodies, town and parish councils face no limits on how much they can raise their portion of the council tax, so individual increases may vary widely.
Overall, the Band D council tax bill will climb from £2,438.62 to £2,560.59—an increase of five percent.
Special expenses, which mainly cover upkeep of closed churchyards in some areas, are not part of councillor salaries or travel costs. Interestingly, these special expenses have decreased slightly, dropping from 71p to 59p on average—a 16.8% fall.
In addition, the Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA), established after severe floods in 2013-14, continues to fund vital flood prevention projects with its £3 million annual budget provided by Somerset Council’s share of council tax. The SRA cannot raise funds independently and remains a non-visible portion of the council tax bill.
Residents are encouraged to pay council tax via direct debit, with options to spread payments over ten or twelve months. Various discounts are available for those living alone, supporting dependents, or on low income. Somerset Council is reviewing its support schemes, balancing financial sustainability with protecting vulnerable households, though major changes are not expected before April 2027.