Over the next three months, councils will be setting budgets — which includes council tax demands.

While North Yorkshire Council will be the main authority that taxpayers keep an eye on for the latest rise in taxation, parish councils will also be setting demands.

Town and parish councils are funded through a precept, which is added to council tax bills.

While North Yorkshire Council cannot increase its council tax charge by more than 4.99%, parish council can increase their precept by an unlimited amount.

There is growing concern that some will do so by large amounts as cash-strapped North Yorkshire Council tried to pass services on to them.

Most parishes have yet to devise a budget for the forthcoming financial year.

But how much do you currently pay your town council and what is it spent on? The Stray Ferret has analysed the main parishes in the Harrogate area and taken a closer look at where your money goes.

Harrogate Town Council

Harrogate Town Council was set up this year and charges households £12.73 for a Band D property — which raises £362,000.

Much of the money raised is spent on staffing costs, running costs and set-up fees.

However, in recent months the council has also used money to support other initiatives such as the Harrogate Bonfire. Its precept is expected to increase significantly as it takes on more services in 2026/27.

Ripon City Council

Ripon City Council commands the highest precept of the main parishes in the district.

The city council charges a Band D property £79.90 for the year.

Some of the precept is used to pay for a programme of free-to-attend public events staged by the council on Market Square, as well as for Christmas lights.

The council has also bid for powers to take over local assets, such as the town hall, which are currently managed by North Yorkshire Council.

Knaresborough Town Council

Like Ripon, Knaresborough Town Council wants to take on more services currently run by North Yorkshire Council.

It is on the verge of being granted the power to run the town’s seven-century-old market.

At the moment, residents are charged a precept of £36.99 per year on top of their council tax bills.

But, as the Stray Ferret revealed this week, the town council has revealed plans to increase its share of council tax for 2026/27.

The town council agreed to increase the cost of the precept for a Band D household from £36.99 to £42.89 — an uplift of £5.90 — at a meeting on Monday (November 17).

Its projected spending includes £50,000 on town development, £35,000 on grants and £30,000 on Christmas lights. Staffing costs are forecast to be £107,000 and another £18,000 will be spent on the town ranger. A total of £5,600 has been set aside for new boundary signs and the same sum has been allocated to town twinning.

Masham Parish Council

Masham Parish Council is in the unusual position of being the only one of the main parishes not to charge a precept.

Instead, the council relies on market rents and car parking honesty boxes to fund its work.

Much of the authority’s budget goes on Christmas lights, grass cutting and staff salaries.

Pateley Bridge Town Council

In Pateley Bridge, residents in a Band D property pay a precept of £41.39 per year.

According to the town council’s latest budget report, the parish pays for maintenance of play areas, floral displays, salaries and the town’s Christmas lights.

Boroughbridge Town Council

Residents in Boroughbridge are expected to pay a precept of £52.05 on top of their council tax bills, according to council documents.

The precept raises around £99,000, which covers areas such as grass cutting.