Budget Consultation 2027/28

The Council budget for 2027/2028 will be decided in March 2027 and we want to ensure that any budget proposals address the issues that you feel most strongly about.

As a Council we continue to face increasing budget pressures. All Local Authorities are having to deal with rising costs including prices for energy, fuel and material, higher National Insurance contributions and a real time decrease in funding. 

In 2026/2027, 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. In 2026/2027, the Council will spend just over £379.127 million on delivering essential local services while also committing to significant investment across the area. 

For every pound we spend, 47p is on Education (almost 50% of the overall Revenue budget) and 22p is on Health and Social Care (20% of the overall Revenue budget).

Our budget gap for 2027/2028 currently stands at £7 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. 

On the back of the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government, there is currently a national discussion on public service. However, until any proposals are confirmed, it is business as usual for East Dunbartonshire Council as we continue to deliver essential services for our local communities. Therefore, we must set a balanced budget for 2027/2028 in March 2027. 

To do this we want to hear what matters most to you and what services you want to see prioritised. The findings from this consultation will be considered as we put forward proposals and overall budget decisions.

You can read more about our budget including what savings and income generating actions were agreed for 2026/2027 by visiting our Council Budget webpage.