Council Budget

We know the financial challenges many households in East Dunbartonshire continue to face and we understand the concerns our residents, businesses and local partners have in relation to public services generally.

The Council budget for 2026/2027 will be decided in March 2026 and we want to ensure that any budget proposal addresses the issues that you feel most strongly about.

As a Council we are facing budget pressures like never before. All Local Authorities are having to deal with increasing costs including prices for energy, fuel and material, increasing National Insurance contributions and a real time decrease in funding. Councils are legally required to set a balanced budget meaning we must find ways to make savings or increase our income.

Our budget gap for 2026/2027 currently stands at 18.343 million. There is still time for this to change once we know the final budget settlement for local government in December, however we expect our gap to remain significant.

While we manage the Council’s finances responsibly and plan carefully to meet any challenge, our budget pressures are influenced by a range of factors. Despite this, we must continue to deliver essential services for our local communities.

Our 'Local Outcomes Improvement Plan' (LOIP) is the primary strategic plan for all the Community Planning Partners in East Dunbartonshire. It describes why and how we will work together to organise and provide services that tackle inequalities. It includes a set of 10-year goals on matters like employment and health.

Our East Dunbartonshire Forward in Partnership approach to strategic planning confirms the high-level priorities across all service areas. These priorities have been informed from the LOIP and through engagement with our communities.

To ensure that our frontline and essential services are delivered to a high standard, we have made a number of savings and income generating actions. Our 2025/2026 Budget was agreed by Council on Thursday 6 March 2025 and since then a number of budget reduction proposals have been actioned.

Outline of savings and income plans.

In 2025/26, 23% of the Council’s funding for services will come directly from Council Tax, with the rest coming from charging for services, government grants, non-domestic rates, and use of limited Council reserves.

When you read about our budget, you’ll see both Capital and Revenue mentioned. Revenue refers to the day-to-day costs we need to pay for such as staff wages and building maintenance. This is mainly funded by the Scottish Government. For several years, this funding has not increased in line with inflation.

Capital funding supports Education, Health and Social Care, Roads, and the building and the refurbishment of our schools and more.

Capital funding cannot be used on anything that comes under Revenue, and any grants that are received for Capital projects must be used for that specific project. This means money cannot be switched from Capital to Revenue or vice versa, unless Government allows. 

Some projects are paid for by ring-fenced funding. This is money that comes various sources and must be used on specific things such as healthcare and teaching. The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) is also ring-fenced, this is money that comes from household rents and can only be spent in housing areas.

In 2025/26, a rise of 13% in Council Tax was agreed. This increase includes 2.75% for the unfunded element of Employers National Insurance and 2.1% for the delivery of a new Balmuildy Primary School. This increase allowed us to bridge the funding gap and set a balanced budget.

The Council Tax increase of 13% means the annual Band D charge rose from £1,415 per year to £1,599 - an annual increase of £184.

In 2025/26, the Council will spend just over £379.127 million on delivering essential local services while also committing to significant investment across the area.

The 2025/2026 Revenue Budget and Capital Programme will:

• Maintain key local services
• Invest in vital infrastructure including progressing designs for the construction of a new Westerton Primary School and the construction of a new Balmuildy Primary School
• Improvement works across the school estate, including at Bearsden and Milngavie primaries and feasibility studies at several other schools
• Invest £1 million to refurbish sports pavilions at Merkland Recreation Centre, Thorn Park and Colquhoun Park
• Invest £1.16 million in upgrading sports pitches at Merkland Recreation Centre and Huntershill Community Sports Hub
• Invest £0.3 million to complete a feasibility study for upgrading sports facilities at Oakburn Park, Milngavie
• Invest in revitalising Campsie Memorial Hall
• Invest in 15 new mechanical school crossing points and recruit a further 12 School Crossing Patrollers.

Almost 50% of the Council’s Revenue budget is spent on Education with almost 20% on Health and Social Care. The remaining ensures the delivery of operational services that includes waste, roads, flood prevention and open space maintenance.