Final council tax bills have landed on doorsteps in North Yorkshire.

Many people are asking why their bills have risen by more than the maximum 4.99%.

North Yorkshire Council, after all, must hold a referendum if it wants to increase its council tax precept by more than 4.99%.

But North Yorkshire Council is just one of four organisations that charge a precept for council tax.

The others are North Yorkshire Police, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and parish councils — and none of these is bound by the 4.99% cap.

The precept for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has increased by 8.97%.

The precept for North Yorkshire has risen by 4.97%.

Each parish council sets its own precept. Harrogate Town Council increased its by 105%.

So in Harrogate, for example, the amount paid by a Band D household has increased by 5.6% from £2,380.15 to £2,514.58 in 2026/27.

Here’s how it is broken down:

Band D 2025/26

• North Yorkshire Council - £1,939.54

• North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue - £107.02

• North Yorkshire Police - £320.86

• Harrogate Town Council - £12.73

Total £2,380.15

Band D 2026/27

• North Yorkshire Council - £2,036.32

• North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue - £116.62

• North Yorkshire Police - £335.86

• Harrogate Town Council - £25.78

Total £2,514.58