Council tax increase - your questions answered

Shropshire is facing a severe financial challenge driven by rising social care demand and reduced government funding. 

Government has given Shropshire exceptional permission to increase council tax by up to 8.99% without a referendum. This was approved at full council on 26 February 2026 and will come into effect on 1 April 2026. 

This 4% rise (on top of the 4.99% which it's normally capped at) will bring in £8.8m, helping us to borrow less and protect essential services. 

Even with an increase, we'll still face a significant budget gap and will continue to lobby government. 

We know this is a difficult time for everyone, and support is available for people who are struggling. To find out more, please take a look at our council tax assistance pages.

From 1 April, the Crisis Resilience Fund will launch to provide additional help for residents in need.