Council approves 2026-27 budget

Carmarthenshire County Council has approved its revenue budget for 2026-27, which includes a council tax increase of 4.9% and spending reductions of £8.7m.

An original proposal of 6.5% was reduced to 4.9% following a period of public consultation with residents, schools, businesses and stakeholders throughout Carmarthenshire, a £5m saving from the Dyfed Pension Fund employer contribution and additional funding from Welsh Government. 

Carmarthenshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Resources, Cllr Alun Lenny, said: 

“The Budget Strategy approved at Full Council responds to the valuable feedback raised as part of the public consultation process and ensures, as far as possible, that service levels and standards are maintained.

Council Tax raises just 17% of the income we need to run the essential services, with approximately 70% of our net budget reliant on funding from the Welsh Government. 

Due to an extra £300m released as part of the Welsh Budget in the Senedd for health and local government, we have received additional funding of almost £6.5m which has resulted in a net improvement in the Council’s financial position of almost £3m, in addition to wiping out the £3.5m projected shortfall. 

Thank you to more than 1,200 residents, school staff, town and community councils, unions, scrutiny committees and young people who responded to our consultation. As a result of this excellent engagement and in response to the consultation, enabled by the extra funding, this final budget contains amendments of £850,000 and removes some cuts previously considered. 

This includes the removal of £160,000 worth of cuts for highways, a 50% reduction in the increase of school meals costs, removal of the proposal to cease Pendine Outdoor Education Centre in 2027/28 to give time for ongoing feasibility work, and removal of savings in the Families Together Team. 

In addition to these changes, our final budget proposes additional investment in property maintenance, the modernising education team and increased essential support for the Welsh Language in education and further investments in highways.”