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.

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 2026/2027 Budget was agreed by Council on Thursday 5 March 2026 and since then a number of budget reduction proposals have been actioned.

Read the Budget papers including savings agreed.

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.

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 2026/2027, a rise of 9.5% in Council Tax was agreed. This increase includes 3% to support the critical financial position the local HSCP are in, helping it to continue to deliver vital social care services to the most vulnerable residents in East Dunbartonshire.

This increase allowed us to bridge the funding gap and set a balanced budget.

The Council Tax increase of 9.5% means the annual Band D charge rose from £1,599 to £1,751 - an annual increase of £151.97. 

In 2026/2027, the Council will spend just over £395.641 million on delivering essential local services while also committing to significant investment across the area.

The 2026/2027 Revenue Budget and Capital Programme will:

• Maintain key local services
• Continue improvement works across the school estate with the ongoing construction of Balmuildy Primary School, completion of the Milngavie Primary School refurbishment and preconstruction works for the new Westerton Primary School
• Invest in vital infrastructure including the commencement of the Westerhill Development Road and Bishopbriggs Town Centre redevelopment programme
• Invest £1 million to bring forward design proposals for new sports pavilions and associated facilities in Oakburn Park, Milngavie and Merkland, Kirkintilloch
• Reinstate the Community Grant Fund benefiting local grassroots groups and organisations following the end of UK Shared Prosperity Funding.

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.

The Council ran a budget consultation from Monday 27 October to Sunday 23 November.

The consultation report outlines the responses and was reported to Council in December 2025.

Visit the Council Tax 2026/2027 page for more info and watch the Budget 2026/27 video to learn more about our budget and how we spend money each year.