Council tax rise of 7% proposed
Written by MartyM on 26 February 2026
By Jamie McDonald
Highland councillors are being asked to approve a 7% rise in council tax.
The local authority says 5% would go towards supporting vital services with the remaining 2% for the Highland Investmen Plan which focuses on schools, roads and infrastructure.
The proposed rise matches last year’s figure. Councillors are due to vote on the proposals on Thursday 5 March.
It would mean the annual cost for a band D property would rise to £1,634. That’s up from £1,527 last year.
If passed, the rise will take effect from 1 April. It comes after Comhairle nan Eilean Siar agreed a hike of 8.5% this week.
The full Highland Council budget proposals are available online.
Leader of the Council, Cllr Raymond Bremner, said:
“The administration is proposing a budget which increases income, directs support to those who need it, and delivers investment and sustainable growth across our communities. Through our Highland Investment Plan, we will deliver long-term capital improvements to our school estate and local infrastructure. Alongside this, a balanced package of savings and income generation measures will enable continued investment in the services people care about most, including adult social care, housing, and workforce development, as well as targeted support for young people and families experiencing poverty or barriers to learning.
“I’m particularly proud to bring forward a budget which includes a recurring £1 million grant and loan scheme to incentivise owners of long-term empty properties to bring them back into use as principal homes, helping to improve housing availability in local communities. A proposal to provide £7 million of additional investment to support the change and transformation work required in adult social care to develop a sustainable model, will also help ensure people can live independently in their own homes as long as possible.”
Convener of the Council, Cllr Bill Lobban, said:
“Councils continue to operate in a challenging financial environment, with significant pressures associated with the costs of delivering services, pay awards, inflation, and interest rates. We have taken a proactive approach to meeting this challenge – moving from a £108 million budget gap three years ago to becoming one of Scotland’s most effective local authorities when it comes to managing financial pressures, increasing income, and diversifying revenue streams, without relying on reserves to balance budgets. While the Scottish Government grant funding to Highland Council in 26/27 represents a small cash increase, it is unlikely to be repeated in future years and falls short of what COSLA asked for to meet service demand. This makes our robust approach to financial management, transformation, and long-term planning, which has been recognised by Audit Scotland, even more critical.”
