Conservative-run West Sussex sets balanced budget with no cuts to frontline services for the 2025/26 financial year.
WSCC has agreed a balanced budget for the year ahead which provides support for the most vulnerable, without cuts to frontline services.
In the coming year, the county council will spend more than £2.2bn on vital services, including:
- £1,284m for schools, education, and children’s social care
- £553m to care for adults and keep people healthy
- £98m to protect the environment, recycling and waste disposal
- £87m to maintain roads and provide transport
- £65m for Fire and Rescue services and support for communities
- £5m to support the local economy
The pressures facing us outweigh the funding we receive from government, and we were able to achieve a balanced budget by reducing spending by £12.3m, and an increase in council tax of 4.99% (2% for adults’ social care and 2.99% for general fund services).
The increase in council tax for a Band D property is £85.59 per year or approximately £1.65 per week.
Conservative Leader Cllr Paul Marshall said: "We approved our budget to spend on essential services to support Our Council Plan, and that’s about keeping people safeguarded, protecting our communities, focusing on our economy, and of course underpinned by protecting the environment.”
