Starting in April, Somerset residents will see a £5 increase in the fire service portion of their council tax bills. This change, representing a 4.8% rise, aims to ensure that the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service can continue providing essential protection to the community.
For 2026/27, the fire service’s budget is set just above £109 million, covering salaries, equipment, and operations of 83 fire stations with 121 fire engines. Of this total, £74.7 million will come from local council tax revenue, highlighting the importance of local support alongside government funding.
The average Band D property will now pay £109.68 annually for fire and rescue services, within their overall council tax which also includes contributions to local councils and the police. The fire authority considers this increase vital to meet current demands and to strengthen the case for more proportional central government funding in the future.
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A public consultation held from October to December 2025 engaged over 440 residents and 400 businesses. The results showed a majority support for the tax rise, with 53% finding the increase reasonable and 77% affirming that the fire service delivers good value for money. Among supporters, over 40% favored the £5 increase specifically.
Councillor Mike Best (Liberal Democrat, Crewkerne) expressed strong support for the raise, emphasizing that using the available tax increase is critical to securing further government funds. “If we don’t utilize the increase available, the government will argue we’re not making full use of funding options,” he said.
Councillor Frank Biederman, chairing the meeting, noted that recent weather challenges such as floods and wildfires underscore the urgent need for adequate funding. He warned that a smaller increase would not impress government ministers: “If we only raised council tax by two per cent, they would laugh at us.”
After a brief discussion, the fire authority unanimously approved the budget, confident the increase is the right step to protect communities across Devon and Somerset.