Council budget and spending

The council's proposed Revenue and Capital Budget 2026/27 will go before Full Council on 4 March for final approval, after Cabinet backed a transformational budget which sets out our plans to help us meet the challenges of supporting ambitious growth across our borough, as well as spending on the essential services that our residents depend on us for. 

For 2026/27, as part of our capital budget, we have proposed more than £150 million, our most ambitious budget yet, for investment in projects like the regeneration of St Helens and Earlestown town centres, including our new St Helens Transport Interchange and bringing back Earlestown Town Hall into public use.  There's also funding in place for projects like the Gamble Building, as well as investment is schools, including funding for new SEND provision for primary secondary and higher education pupils.  We are investing over the next two years in our strategic leisure service that will have a positive impact on residents' health and wellbeing by creating new opportunities to engage in activities. Alongside this we've also approved plans for a £17 million investment in our highways that will benefit all road users. 

Our Revenue budget helps us maintain and deliver the essential services that are vital to residents, from looking after people and families who need our support, to collecting, disposing and recycling our waste, and repairing our roads. And all this is on top of what we spend on our revenue budget, providing the hundreds of essential services to residents every day from looking after people and families who need our support, to collecting and recycling our waste, maintaining our green spaces, repairing our highways and providing business support, among others. 

We are continually delivering on essential services in the most efficient and effective ways, and we are working hard to deliver new jobs, homes, infrastructure and opportunities for residents, local businesses and all our communities. 

Setting your 2026-2027 Council Tax 

Like most councils across the country, we are also having to increase Council Tax. The proposed rise includes 2 per cent recommended by Government to go towards funding the extra cost of adult social care, with 2.99 per cent going toward the general increase to fund vital public services - a total of 4.99 per cent. 

The proposed increase of 4.99 per cent will go before Full Council on 4 March for final approval. 

It's not an easily decision to raise council tax and we recognise the financial pressures on you and your families, however approximately 85 per cent of households will pay no more than an extra 23p per day to help maintain vital services. 

This will not cover the entire budget requirement we need, but it will raise around £5.1m for services which otherwise would have to be cut.   

Without raising Council Tax, we would have to dramatically cut back or stop running some of our services that support residents across St Helens Borough. 

Here you can find help with paying your Council Tax.