Proposals to increase council tax in York by the maximum amount allowed are set to be voted on this week.
York Council’s proposals are set to go before all councillors along with the ruling Labour group’s budget plans for the coming financial year on Thursday, February 12.
Cllr Katie Lomas, the council’s Labour finance spokesperson, has said they have no option but to put up council tax to keep funding the services residents want.
Liberal Democrat opposition leader Cllr Nigel Ayre said national funding changes which could see York lose £20m and become the country’s lowest-funded authority were catastrophic.
Council budget plans for this year would see council tax rise to £1,817.93 for Band D homes, but that’s excluding police, fire, mayoral and parish precept charges.
It comes amid warnings of an extremely challenging financial outlook for the authority which is facing forecast budget gaps of £10m in 2027-8 and 2028-9.
The council also looks set to lose £20m over three years from the Government’s Fair Funding Review, which ministers say is needed to redirect money to areas most in need.
Spending plans for 2026-7 include £90,000 for council Neighbourhood Caretakers, £2.3m to repair and modenise the authority’s homes, £585,000 crematorium improvements and £10m for adult social care.
Savings worth £4.3m are proposed including a review of leisure services, building securing, new lighting and AI tools.
Talks over £600,000 cuts to York Explore’s contract to run the city’s libraries and archives first approved in 2024 remain ongoing.
