We're one of the lowest funded unitary authorities and we're facing a financial challenge unlike any we’ve seen before. We must protect services that care for people while delivering the services you rely on.
Changes in the way local government is funded have masked the reductions in funding for councils since 2010 and 2011. When comparing Core Spending Power (the measurement used by government) there has been an increase in funding by 6% since 2010 and 2011. However, due to inflation there has been a reduction in spending power of 28.5% for York. Had the spending power been maintained in real terms the council would have an additional £43 million available to spend.
Our Big Budget Conversation is your chance to tell us where to spend and what to save. We need to save £30 million over the next 3 years. There is less money coming in and more need for services because of rising costs and an ageing population. We might not balance our budget without cutting or reducing services.
Since May 2024, we have been talking about the budget through Our Big Budget Conversation. The first stage of Our Big Budget Conversation was the Corporate Improvement Framework consultation. The second stage was our first budget consultation.
This process will finish when Stage 3 - Our second budget consultation closes, on 1 January 2025, leading to more public involvement in January 2025 and a council meeting in February 2025.
This step-by-step approach helps everyone understand how budget decisions might affect different people and groups. It also looks at how partners, businesses and residents can work together to achieve shared goals for the city.
Why your views matter
We need your help to make important decisions about how we spend money in York. Your views matter because they help us understand what is most important to you and your community.
When you share your ideas, you help us decide where to spend money and what services to keep. This helps us to protect services for our most vulnerable and understand the services you rely on.
