Horsham District Council has balanced its budget for the 2026/27 financial year whilst securing the lowest Council Tax rate in Sussex.
The Council will also provide support for the most vulnerable residents of Horsham District, whilst investing in significant capital projects to improve the quality of life for local people.
The budget will be delivered with a £1.6 million surplus despite high levels of inflation and significant reductions in core government funding which have increased gross costs. Government funding is set to reduce by a further £0.9m in 2027/28.
The approved revenue budget surplus will contribute funding towards a significant £35 million capital investment programme to be delivered over two years.
This programme will see investment in infrastructure to include home repairs, disabled facility grants and housing enabling grants, a £10.2 million refurbishment of The Capitol theatre and building improvements for the Rec Rooms, replacement waste collection vehicles, a new community centre for Highwood and improved infrastructure and community facilities for Billingshurst.
It was agreed that fees and charges across the Council’s services would increase, raising Council Tax in the District by £ 5.15 a year (2.94%) on a Band D property.
Horsham District Council Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finances and Resources Cllr Mark Baynham commented: “With this below inflation increase to Council Tax, the Council will continue to charge the lowest Council Tax in Sussex and remain in the lowest quartile in the UK, whilst maintaining high quality services, protecting the vulnerable and delivering substantial capital investment projects for the overall benefit of local residents.
The increases for the next financial year are largely due to inflation and service demand pressures and the £2million statutory introduction of food waste collection costs.
“As a result of ongoing careful financial management we can continue to deliver our ambitious capital programme improvements and provide high quality services to benefit of our residents.”
The budget proposals were fully approved at a meeting of full Council on Monday 23 February.