Councils across Scotland are considering how much they will raise council tax.
A nationwide freeze on the levy ends in April meaning local authorities can increase it by however much they like.
With councils facing financial black holes of millions of pounds and rising service costs, increasing council tax is one way they can plug the gap.
On Tuesday, East Lothian became the first council to confirm a rise – with an increase of 10%. On Thursday, further inflation-busting increases were confirmed in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Fife and elsewhere.
The increase will mean households in Band D will pay £1,579.18 annually, up from £1,435.62.
Scotland’s other 31 councils will decide how much the tax will increase in their areas over the next five weeks.
Aberdeen City Council
Aberdeen faces a funding shortfall of £34m in 2025/26. There is no public proposal for a rise in council tax yet, but plans will be revealed before the budget debate on March 5.
Aberdeenshire Council
Aberdeenshire Council said it would need to raise council tax by 17% to fill its funding gap. No specific proposal has been made public yet, however.
The council’s budget date is February 27.
Angus Council
Angus Council has said it would need to raise council tax by 15% to plug its funding gap. No specific proposal has been made public yet, however.
The council’s budget date is February 27.
Argyll and Bute Council
Argyll and Bute Council is expected to raise council tax by between 5% and 8.9%
Last year, Argyll and Bute Council became the first Scottish local authority to vote through a council tax rise – of 10%.
However, this was rolled back after talks with the Scottish Government and the assurance of funding, which was equivalent to a 5% rise.
The council’s budget date is February 27.
City of Edinburgh Council
Edinburgh City Council is raising council tax by 8%.
The council’s budget date was on Thursday, February 20.
Clackmannanshire Council
Clackmannanshire Council is expected to raise council tax by between 8% and 12%.
The council’s budget date is yet to be confirmed.
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (the Western Isles Council) is expected to raise council tax by 8%.
The council’s budget date is February 25 and 26.
Dumfries and Galloway Council
Dumfries and Galloway Council is expected to raise council tax by 6%.
The council’s budget date is February 27.
Dundee City Council
Dundee City Council said it would need to raise council tax by 29% to fill its funding gap. No specific proposal has been made public yet, however.
The council’s budget date is February 27.
East Ayrshire Council
East Ayrshire Council is expected to raise council tax by 8%.
The council’s budget date is February 27.
East Dunbartonshire Council
No figure for East Dunbartonshire Council’s proposed increase has been made public.
The council’s budget date is March 6.
East Lothian Council
East Lothian Council has voted to increase council tax by 10%.
The increase will mean households in Band D will pay £1,579.18 annually, up from £1,435.62.
Council leader Norman Hampshire put forward the budget for approval saying the council tax increase would bring more than £9m additional revenue for public services.
East Renfrewshire Council
No figure for East Renfrewshire Council’s proposed increase has been made public.
The council’s budget date is February 26.
Falkirk Council
Falkirk Council is expected to raise council tax by between 10% and 15%.
The council’s budget date is March 6.
Fife Council
Fife Council raised council tax by 8.2%.
The increase will cause council tax bills for band D properties in Fife to rise by about £113 a year.
The council’s budget date was on Thursday, February 20.
Glasgow City Council
Councillors in Glasgow have agreed a council tax rise of 7.5%.
On Thursday, February 20, the SNP and Green groups met to agree the budget deal saying they wanted to keep the increase “well within single figures” due to the cost of living crisis.
Highland Council
The Highland Council is expected to raise council tax by between 5% and 7%.
The council’s budget date is March 6.
Last year, the local authority warned of “unprecedented” financial pressure as it faces an estimated £113m budget gap over the next three years.
Inverclyde Council
Inverclyde Council is expected to raise council tax by 7%.
The council’s budget date is March 6.
Last year, Inverclyde Council became the second local authority to defy the Scottish Government and raise council tax.
The Labour-led administration announced it would hike rates by 8.2% in 2024 and another 6% in 2025.
However, following talks with the Scottish Government, this was rolled back.
Midlothian Council
No figure for Midlothian Council’s proposed increase has been made public.
The council’s budget date is February 25.
Moray Council
Moray Council is expected to raise council tax by 7%.
The council’s budget date is February 26.
North Ayrshire Council
No figure for North Ayrshire Council’s proposed increase has been made public.
The council’s budget date is February 26.
North Lanarkshire Council
North Lanarkshire is expected to raise council tax by 10%.
The council’s budget date is February 20.
Orkney Islands Council
No figure for Orkney Islands Council’s proposed increase has been made public.
The council’s budget date is yet to be set.
Last year, the local authority said council tax would increase by 10% if the extra funding eventually confirmed by the Scottish Government didn’t come through.
Perth and Kinross Council
Perth and Kinross Council is expected to raise council tax by 10%.
The council’s budget date is February 26.
Renfrewshire Council
No figure for Renfrewshire Council’s proposed increase has been made public.
The council’s budget date is yet to be confirmed.
Scottish Borders Council
Scottish Borders Council has raised council tax by 10%.
The council’s budget was set on Thursday, February 20.
Shetland Islands Council
Shetland Islands Council is expected to raise council tax by 5%.
The council’s budget date is February 25.
South Ayrshire Council
No figure for South Ayrshire Council’s proposed increase has been made public.
The council’s budget date is February 27.
South Lanarkshire Council
No figure for South Lanarkshire Council’s proposed increase has been made public.
The council’s budget date is February 26.
Stirling Council
Stirling Council is expected to raise council tax by between 7.5% and 12.5%.
The council’s budget date is February 27.
West Dunbartonshire Council
No figure for West Dunbartonshire Council’s proposed increase has been made public.
The council’s budget date is March 5.
Last year, council tax was frozen, but the local authority warned of “unavoidable cuts to services” that would have a “lasting impact” on its communities.
West Lothian Council
West Lothian Council is expected to raise council tax by 5.8%.
The council’s budget date is March 25.
Last year, it said its decision to follow the Scottish Government’s national council tax freeze resulted “in a further £1.4m of budget savings being required in West Lothian next year as it is not fully funded.”
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