Argyll and Bute Council is seeking community input on budget priorities as it faces a significant funding gap for the upcoming fiscal year
Argyll: The council is reaching out to residents for their thoughts on budget priorities. They’re facing a big budget gap, and they want to know what matters most to the community.
Over the last decade, the council has saved more than £50 million, but they still need to make cuts to balance the budget. Right now, they’re looking at a gap of £14.9 million.
After factoring in some savings and potential fee increases, that gap shrinks to £6.4 million for 2025-26 and £27 million over the next five years. It’s a tough situation.
Councillor Jim Lynch, the council leader, mentioned that setting budgets is always a challenge, but this year is particularly tough. They’re really pushed to the limit.
He emphasized that they need to decide which services are essential and which ones might not be. It’s all about making the best use of what they have.
With limited options left, they’re asking the community: should they raise income to keep services running, or cut some of the services they currently provide?
They want to hear from everyone in Argyll and Bute, so they’re encouraging folks to share their opinions. The budget will be set on February 27, so time is of the essence.
Councillor Ross Moreland pointed out that they can only save from a small part of the budget, about 26%. Rising costs and specific budget allocations from the Scottish Government make it even trickier to balance things out.
The budget survey is open for four weeks, and you can find it at argyll-bute.gov.uk/form/budget-survey. Make your voice heard!
