Aberdeenshire and Moray councils propose 10% council tax increases, the highest proposed so far
Scotland's three largest councils (Glasgow, Edinburgh, Fife) propose more modest 5% increases
Councils face significant funding shortfalls and are proposing service cuts alongside tax increases
This marks the second year of substantial council tax increases after decades of frozen rates
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Scottish local authorities including Aberdeenshire and Moray councils are proposing double-digit council tax increases of up to 10% for the second consecutive year in Aberdeenshire and Moray, Scotland, with the increases set to take effect from April 1, 2025, as councils face significant funding shortfalls and increasing service demands despite a 3% inflation rate. These proposed rises represent some of the highest in Scotland, with many councils considering increases well above the latest rate of inflation. Scotland's three largest councils by population - Glasgow, Edinburgh and Fife - have all proposed a more modest 5% increase, expected to be among the lowest in Scotland. Scottish Borders Council has already agreed an 8.5% rise, while Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has proposed 9.5%, Midlothian is contemplating 9%, and Shetland councillors have suggested 7.3%. Aberdeenshire Council officials stated that without an increase in income, they were facing a shortfall of more than £17.5m in funding, forcing them to propose cuts to services including reduced school cleaning and grounds maintenance, stopping road line painting on residential streets, and ceasing sheltered housing support contributions. This follows a pattern of significant council tax increases that began last year, after decades of frozen or capped rates. In the 2024-25 financial year, the Scottish government subsidised a nationwide freeze, but that support ended in April 2025. Last year saw the biggest council tax increases in 20 years across Scotland, with Falkirk Council and Orkney Islands Council leading with increases of 15.6% and 15% respectively. Adding to household financial pressure, Scottish Water announced in January that water and sewer rates would increase by 8.67% from April. Most households also pay water charges through their council tax bills, based on the band of their home.
In economics, inflation is an increase in the average price of goods and services in terms of money. This increase is measured using a price index, typically a consumer price index (CPI). When the general price level rises, each unit of currency buys fewer goods and services; consequently, inflation...
Council Tax is a local taxation system used in England, Scotland and Wales. It is a tax on domestic property, which was introduced in 1993 by the Local Government Finance Act 1992, replacing the short-lived Community Charge (also known as "poll tax"), which in turn had replaced the domestic rates. E...
Aberdeenshire (Scots: Aiberdeenshire; Scottish Gaelic: Siorrachd Obar Dheathain) is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland.
It takes its name from the historic county of Aberdeenshire, which had substantially different boundaries. The Aberdeenshire Council area includes all of the areas of the hist...
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjacent islands, principally in the archipelagos of the Hebrides and the Northern Isles. In 2022...
Moray ( ; Scottish Gaelic: Moireibh or Moireabh) is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland. It lies in the north-east of the country, with a coastline on the Moray Firth, and borders the council areas of Aberdeenshire and Highland. Its council is based in Elgin, the area's largest town.
Double-digit council tax rises proposed for second year in a row 4 hours ago Share Save Claire Thomson , BBC Scotland and Jamie McIvor , Scotland news correspondent Share Save Households are set to face another year of big council tax increases as local authorities propose rises well above the latest rate of inflation. Scotland's three largest councils by population - Glasgow, Edinburgh and Fife - have all proposed a 5% increase, expected to be among the lowest in Scotland. Many other councils are considering bigger rises, with Aberdeenshire and Moray councils both considering 10% increases , more than three times the inflation rate. These figures could change as councillors in each local authority will be asked to approve the increases, which will take effect from 1 April. Scottish Borders Council has already agreed an 8.5% rise in council tax, a figure which is more than 2.5 times the current rate of inflation. The Office for National Statistics said inflation in January was 3% which is lowest rate since March last year. Aberdeenshire Council officials said without an increase in income, they were facing a shortfall of more than £17.5m in funding. They have proposed cuts to services including reduced school cleaning and grounds maintenance, stopping road line painting on residential streets and ceasing sheltered housing support contributions. The proposed 10% rises in Aberdeenshire and Moray are the biggest to be made public so far. Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has proposed a 9.5% increase, Midlothian is contemplating a rise of 9% and councillors in Shetland have suggested a 7.3% hike. Most households also pay water charges through their council tax bills, based on the council tax band of their home. Scottish Water announced in January that water and sewer rates would go up 8.67% from April. Earlier this year, the Scottish government also announced two new council tax bands are set to be added from April 2028 – band I for homes valued between £1m and £2m, and band J ...
