Scotland is bracing for a wave of council tax increases, with more than half of local authorities setting their rates this week. Despite government warnings to cap rises, several councils have already confirmed hikes as high as 10%, citing budget shortfalls and rising costs.
Today, Midlothian, West Lothian, Western Isles, and Shetland councils will vote on their financial plans, joining a growing list of authorities implementing sharp tax increases.
A total of 18 councils are finalising their budgets this week, following decisions from six councils last week, while more will confirm their rates next week. The increases come amid concerns over public service funding and the impact on household finances.
Sharp Rises Despite Government Warnings
According to the Daily Record, the Scottish Government has urged local authorities to show restraint, with Deputy First Minister John Swinney warning that 10% hikes are excessive, according to multiple reports. However, many councils have ignored these calls, citing financial pressures as the driving factor behind their decisions.
Last week, six councils confirmed tax increases ranging from 7.5% to 10%, including East Lothian, Edinburgh, Fife, Glasgow, Scottish Borders, and North Lanarkshire. Some of the highest rises include:
- East Lothian, Scottish Borders, and North Lanarkshire: 10% increase
- Fife: 8.2% increase
- Edinburgh: 8% increase
- Glasgow: 7.5% increase
These sharp increases mean hundreds of thousands of households will face higher tax bills from April. Some councils argue that these rises are essential to maintain local services, while critics claim they will further strain struggling families.
Key Decisions This Week and Next
A further 18 councils will set their tax rates this week, with votes spread across multiple days. Today, Midlothian, West Lothian, Western Isles, and Shetland will finalise their budgets. On Wednesday, decisions are expected from East Renfrewshire, Moray, North Ayrshire, and South Lanarkshire.
The largest batch of announcements will come on Thursday, with Aberdeenshire, Angus, Argyll and Bute, Clackmannanshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Dundee, East Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, and Stirling all deciding their rates.
The final wave of councils, including Aberdeen, East Dunbartonshire, Falkirk, Highland, Inverclyde, Orkney, Perth and Kinross, and West Dunbartonshire, will confirm their increases next week.
With tax bills set to rise across Scotland, council leaders argue that difficult decisions are necessary to sustain public services. However, opposition voices warn that such increases will disproportionately impact low-income households, intensifying the cost-of-living crisis.
