RESIDENTS will pay more council tax from April after Wiltshire Council approved a £567 million budget for 2026/27, amid concerns households are being asked to shoulder higher bills while receiving fewer services.

At a Full Council meeting this week, members backed a 2.99% rise in the general council tax rate, alongside a 2% Adult Social Care levy.

For a Band D property, this means an annual bill of £1,981.15 – an increase of £1.81 per week.

The authority says the rise will generate £20.5 million to sustain essential services.

The increase, which scraped through by 50 votes to 48, comes against a backdrop of criticism from opposition councillors and residents over planned changes to waste collections.

Wiltshire Council also approved plans to move to three-weekly, rather than fortnightly, household waste collections from spring 2027 in a bid to save money and boost recycling rates.

The new system will include weekly food waste collections, fortnightly recycling, and a booking system for household recycling centres – proposals that have proved contentious.

Critics such as the Conservatives, who proposed an alternative budget at the meeting, argue that the Liberal Democrat administration is raising council tax while reducing frontline services such as bin collections.

Despite the backlash, the budget sets out a net £40 million increase in spending compared with the current year, which the council says reflects mounting demand and a “challenging financial context”, particularly for rural authorities.

Adult services will account for the largest share of spending at £224 million.

Waste and environmental services are allocated £62 million, families and children’s services £79 million, highways and transport £44 million, and education and skills £41 million.

Following public opposition to earlier proposals, councillors agreed a series of amendments. Purton and Lower Compton household recycling centres will remain open for now.

Funding for community transport grants has also been reinstated amid concerns that vulnerable residents could be left isolated.

Members also approved the introduction of a lane rental scheme to charge utility companies for works on key routes and delayed changes to the Parish Emergency Assistance Scheme.

The council say £27.6 million in new savings – on top of £5.3 million previously agreed – will balance the books without dipping into reserves.

Leader of Wiltshire Council Cllr Ian Thorn.

Leader of Wiltshire Council Cllr Ian Thorn said: “It is an ambitious, sustainable budget that helps to safeguard vital services despite the financial challenges we face.

“When we published our draft proposals, we did so welcoming ongoing dialogue, and that’s why we have amended the budget to reflect this feedback.

“National funding continues to fall short – particularly for rural counties like ours – but now that this budget has been agreed, we are determined to continue the hard work of delivering strong services, protecting vulnerable residents, and investing in the priorities our communities care about.”