WARRINGTON Borough Council’s “difficult” budget for 25/26 was approved last night which will see a council tax rise of 4.98 percent and plans to make savings of £30.4m.
Cabinet member for Finance, Assets and Investments, Cllr Denis Matthews, said: “This has been our most difficult budget to set in recent years, in the midst of facing huge demand for our services and the entire local government sector facing a funding crisis.
“Despite the challenges, the budget that has been approved puts our most vulnerable residents first. But the costs of looking after and supporting people in Warrington costs more than 70p in every £1 we spend.
“That means that Council Tax doesn’t even cover the costs of looking after our children and families, adults and older people, and people facing homelessness – never mind the costs of cutting grass, fixing potholes, emptying bins and maintaining parks and grounds.
“This shows the challenges we face. But despite this pressure, we have been able to put forward a legal, balanced budget again this coming financial year.”
The local government information unit (LGiU) has previously reported that only 15 of the 139 top-tier councils are planning council tax increases of less than 4.98%.
Equally, 30 councils are currently in receipt of Exceptional Financial Support from government, which is additional funding for councils in financial distress. This is reflective of the council-wide funding and demand issues being felt across the country.
Key 2025/26 statistics
Warrington’s budget is set in the context of:
• Warrington ranking 19th out of 20 in terms of funding per home, compared to other councils across the area
• Warrington having the sixth lowest Council Tax rate out of the 20 councils in the area
• Council Tax accounting for £134m of its funding, compared to £31.8m of government funding received
• Council Tax accounting for around 65% of the council’s income
• The council needing to make £30.4 million of savings, and we have not sought Exceptional Financial Support from government
• The council having faced around £265m of budget reductions since 2010, equating to around £2,725 per household
• The Council Tax increase of 4.98% works out to be a £1.70 per week increase for a Band D property
Read more about the council budget at: warrington.gov.uk/budget
Funding per home in North West council areas
• Cheshire East – £249.10
• Warrington – £375.60
• Cheshire West and Chester – £381.30
• Stockport – £425.20
• Trafford – £453.30
• Bury – £555.50
• Wigan – £637.20
• Sefton – £658.20
• Bolton – £738.70
• Tameside – £742.90
• Wirral – £745.00
• St. Helens £750.80
• Salford – £786.20
• Halton – £875.50
• Rochdale – £911.10
• Oldham – £930.70
• Blackpool – £986.60
• Manchester – £1074.30
• Liverpool – £1082.70
• Knowsley 1341.90
Average Council Tax D properties
• Wigan – £1553
• Trafford – £1602
• Manchester – £1699
• Halton – £1759
• Bolton – £1772
• Warrington – £1779
• St. Helens – £1792
• Cheshire East – £1793
• Tameside – £1821
• Knowsley – £1841
• Cheshire West and Chester – £1884
• Wirral – £1888
• Bury – £1920
• Blackpool – £1929
• Sefton – £1946
• Salford – £1955
• Oldham – £1956
• Rochdale – £1961
• Stockport – £1977
• Liverpool – £2045
1 Comment
WBC don’t find it difficult to waste 1.93 billion of council tax payers money on stupid investments do they ? Though