Somerset residents will face an average council tax increase of nearly £122 per year starting this April, following the approval of Somerset Council’s annual budget. At a full council meeting held in Bridgwater on March 4, councillors voted for a 4.99% rise in the council’s share of the tax—the highest permitted without prompting a local referendum.
In addition to Somerset Council’s increase, contributions to other essential services also rose. Avon and Somerset Constabulary’s portion of the average council tax bill will go up by £15, while Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service will see a £5 hike.
Somerset’s town and parish councils, responsible for local amenities such as grass cutting and dog waste bins, have mostly finalized their budgets. Combining these increases, the overall average council tax bill will climb by approximately £121.97 annually, equating to about £2.34 extra per week—roughly the cost of a two-litre bottle of milk.
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Council tax in Somerset is calculated based on property values dating back to 1991 and categorized into eight bands from A (the lowest) to H (the highest). Band D is considered the average for billing purposes, although the actual number of Band D properties in Somerset is relatively low compared to other areas.
The council tax pool is divided among four key entities: 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 the central government.
Somerset Council’s share for a Band D property is set to increase from £1,857.61 in 2025/26 to £1,950.30 in 2026/27, a 4.99% rise. Of this increase, 2% is specifically designated for adult social care, while the remaining 2.99% supports other services including waste collection, road maintenance, and park upkeep.
The police portion will see a 5.12% increase, rising from £293.20 to £308.20, and the fire and rescue service will have a 4.78% rise, from £104.68 to £109.68. Town and parish councils’ share is expected to grow by 5.15%, from £182.42 to £191.82, though these can vary widely as there is no statutory cap on their increases.
Overall, the total bill for a Band D property will increase by five percent, from £2,438.62 to £2,560.59. Meanwhile, special expenses related to the maintenance of closed churchyards in the former Mendip and South Somerset areas will see a slight decrease of 16.8%, lowering from 71p to 59p on average.
The Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA), established after devastating floods in 2015, operates with an annual budget exceeding £3 million to fund flood prevention measures. These efforts supplement the work of the Environment Agency and local drainage boards, ranging from major dredging projects to small-scale interventions like tree planting. The SRA’s budget is funded through Somerset Council’s share of council tax and does not appear as a separate charge.
Residents are encouraged to pay council tax via direct debit, with options for either 10 or 12 monthly payments. Discounts are available for households meeting specific criteria, such as those living alone, supporting children or dependents, or with low income. The council is currently reviewing its support schemes to balance assistance for vulnerable residents with fiscal sustainability, with potential changes expected no earlier than April 2027.