Friday February 13th 2026
Scottish Borders Council headquarters
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
Council Tax payers in the Scottish Borders face an increase in the levy of more than twice the rate of inflation, it has emerged.
When members of Scottish Borders Council meet on Thursday, February 19, they will be asked to endorse a 8.4 per cent hike from April.
The 2026/27 bills will leave average Band D householders paying an additional £2.44 every week.
The Conservative-led council argue the rise is required to preserve frontline services.
Although the Scottish government’s annual revenue funding settlement of £315m is an increase from the current year’s £292m, SBC says it still has to find more than £8m of savings during 2026/27 to balance its books.
The moves follows a ten per cent rise in Council Tax in 2025/26.
Further cost-cutting measures include not filling about 30 current vacancies across departments and shedding more jobs as it attempts to save £1.4m from a redesign of its Care at Home service.
Additionally, 26 positions are to go from its customer advice and business administration department over two years.
Other cost-cutting and money-generating plans include taking the most expensive school transport contracts in-house, above inflation increases in fees and charges, and reducing the number of out-of-area care placements for people with complex needs.
The proposals have been supported by the council’s Liberal Democrats and Independents but the SNP group walked out of discussions at the 11th hour over plans not to increase the Council Tax levy on second homes in line with empty properties.
Councillor Euan Jardine, the leader of Scottish Borders Council, said: “The people of the Borders are at the heart of this budget, we are protecting services that they have told us they hold dear and that we know have an impact on everyday lives.
“As a council, we are asked year on year to deliver more with fewer resources, we will continue to make clear the significant pressures this places on essential services in our local area. Despite ongoing pressures on our funding, we have made decisions to maintain services.”
Councillor Robin Tatler, leader of the Independent group, said: “Once again we have had to make considerable savings in order to submit a balanced budget, whilst continuing to protect frontline services.
“Our staff must be congratulated for implementing new technology and systems that will make service delivery not only more efficient but more cost effective in the coming years.
“The budget will also enable us to maintain and develop local public transport services – vital for our rural communities. It is encouraging that we have again been able to work across all groups on the council to develop this budget.”
Councillor Euan Robson, leader of the Liberal Democrat group, said: The pressures facing councils across Scotland are well recognised, we now get a smaller share of the Scottish Government’s budget than we used to.
“It is vital that we continue to highlight the particular challenges of delivering services with fewer funds in an area with a distinctive rural geography, an ageing population, big infrastructure challenges and the impact of climate change.
“These factors shape everything we do, and they make it all the more important that our budget reflects the real needs of the people who live here and whom we serve.”
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