THE Scottish Borders (SBC) have announced a council tax increase in a bid to “protect services and invest in communities”.
Residents face a 10% hike this year which was rubber-stamped at a meeting of the council today (Thursday).
Members were told that SBC currently has one of the lowest council tax levels in Scotland, which can limit its ability to respond to rising costs.
The council faces a £69m funding gap by 2034/35 without permanent service reductions being made, reinforcing the requirement for “transformational change” over the next decade.
The 10% increase in council tax for 2025/26 will result in a Band D property equivalent rate of £1491.72.
This equates to an average annual increase of £135.61, or £11.30 per month (£2.61 per week).
Charges will range from £994.48 for those in band A properties to £3654.71 for band H properties.
Members across the chamber acknowledged that this year’s budget setting was the most difficult in 30 years, due to the current exceptionally difficult economic climate.
There was cross-party endorsement of the budget proposals.
In an amended motion to members, councillor Euan Jardine, the Conservative leader of SBC, said: “This budget reflects a cross-party commitment to protecting and investing in the services that matter most to our communities.
“Despite unprecedented financial pressures, we have worked together to ensure that core services remain intact while making vital investments for the future of the Scottish Borders.
“This has not been an easy budget, members across the chamber have had to make difficult choices, recognising both the financial pressures facing households and the need to sustain local services that people rely on daily.”
Despite many challenges, Jardine highlighted key investment in communities, including £300 million in capital investment over the next ten years, including new schools, care villages, and £2 million for play and outdoor spaces.
“Grave concerns” were also raised regarding the risk of 40% of increased Employer National Insurance Contributions being unfunded.
Jardine, for Galashiels and District, added: “The council asks the chief executive to make urgent representation to both the Scottish and UK Governments to stress the significant financial pressure this additional cost places on local services and to reiterate SBC’s previous calls for full reimbursement.”
Independent Councillor Robin Tatler, who represents Tweeddale East, said: “Every year we’ve had to make savings and the easy savings went long long ago and we are now into really difficult territory.
“None of us want to raise Council Tax by 10 per cent, we didn’t get elected to increase the burdens on our local communities but we have to do it if we want to protect our communities.”
One dissenting voice to the council tax increase was Conservative councillor Julie Pirone, for Tweeddale East.
She said: “I accept that in my group I am a lone voice but I believe we are letting our constituents down, forcing on them an extra cost that many will struggle to pay.”
It was a stance criticised by independent Councillor David Parker, for Leaderdale and Melrose, who accused her of “grandstanding for her own political gain”.
Among the cutbacks agreed was scrapping of the Community Action Team (CAT), a police-led team funded by the council set up to tackle crime, anti-social behaviour and illegal parking.
The 10% rise follows an enforced freeze on the charge in the financial year 2024/25.
