Council Asked To Consider 2.5% Council Tax Rise
Issued: 2 Feb 2026
Highland Councillors will be asked to approve a rise of £28 at Band D, a 2.5 % increase, when they meet on Thursday (8 February) to set the Council Tax for 2026-2008. In setting a budget of £517 million, the Council is asked to agree the following charges in 2026-2008: -
A £775.33; B £904.56; C £1,033.78; D £1,163 E £1,421.44; F £1,679.89; G £1,938.33; H £2,326.
In setting the budget, the Council agreed a 5.3% increase on the £491 million of 2026-07. Members particularly welcomed provision of £1 million in the budget to deal with the effects of climate change, minimising flooding, allowing improvements in gully gleaning, general drainage maintenance and watercourse maintenance.
At the same time, measures to balance the budget include £12.3 million in savings and reductions, of which £7.164 million are efficiency savings. These efficiency savings exceed our share of the national target set by the Scottish Executive of £2.559 million.
Normally, the Council would be asked to consider an indicative tax charge for the following two financial years. As a result of the latest Spending Review outcome being delayed, the Council does not know the grant settlement for 2026/9 and 2026/2010 at this time and as a result is not being asked to declare an indicative tax increase for these two years.
