Council proposes to increase tax by nearly 4%

"A local authority is proposing to increase its council tax by 3.99% in the next financial year. Kent County Council's (KCC) leader, Linden Kemkaran, argued the proposal, announced on Thursday, was a "step forward following a period of significant financial challenge for the authority". She said: "When this administration took office, the council was saddled with more than 700 million of debt and pressures on vital services were continuing to grow.""

"Leader of the opposition Antony Hook, from the Liberal Democrats, has criticised the Reform administration's long-delayed draft budget, accusing the leadership of financial mismanagement and a "total betrayal" of election promises. "Reform stood for election promising to make savings and lower the burden on taxpayers," Hook said. "Today, that promise has been utterly broken." The 2026 draft budget proposes that Band A households could pay an extra 44.94 in council tax; Band B an extra 53.43; Band C an extra 59.92."

Kent County Council proposes a 3.99% council tax increase for the next financial year to reduce the burden of historic borrowing and prioritise vital services. Leader Linden Kemkaran described the rise as a step forward after the council faced more than 700 million of debt and growing pressures on services. Opposition leader Antony Hook accused the administration of financial mismanagement and a broken promise to lower the taxpayer burden. The delayed 2026 draft budget sets specific Band A–C increases and will be examined by the Liberal Democrats ahead of a final budget meeting on 12 February.

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