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14
Jan
Mayor plans 9% council tax hike for fire service
The Mayor of York and North Yorkshire has planned a 9% increase in council tax for the county’s fire service.
David Skaith has proposed the hike in North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service's share of the precept, which would raise a Band D property charge by £9.60 to £116.62.
The move comes after the Labour mayor increased the fire precept by £25 last year.
Mr Skaith said the decision to propose a 9% rise for 2026/27 would help to “protect the precept decision from last year”.
In a report due before the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Panel, he said the fire service is expected to see a decrease in government funding over the next three years of around £3.3 million.
As a result, Mr Skaith said the initial plan to increase the precept by £6 in 2026/27 had to be revised to £9.60.
He said:
The impact of the funding formula on North Yorkshire Fire is a reduction in government funding of £3.3m, in cash terms, across the three years. This equates to a reduction in government grant of almost 25% across the three years.
This has clearly had a significant impact on our financial plans and is the reason for the precept proposal for 2026/27 being higher than was included within our financial plans a year ago, which was for a £6 increase.
The move is expected to see overall funding for the fire service for the forthcoming year rise by £2.35 million.
Mr Skaith’s report added that the service is expected to increase its reserves from £4.3 million in March 2025 to £7 million by March 2030.
Meanwhile, the Labour mayor has yet to reveal his precept plans for North Yorkshire Police.
If approved, Mr Skaith’s proposal will be added to council tax bills from April this year.
The total council tax bill is made up of precepts charged by North Yorkshire Council, North Yorkshire Police, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, and parish councils.
Councillors on North Yorkshire’s Police, Fire and Crime panel will discuss the fire precept plans at a meeting on January 21.
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