Council tax charges for Hertfordshire County Council services are set to increase by 4.99% from April, following the approval of a £1.2 billion budget.

This year (2025/26), council tax payers living in a Band D property in paid £1,492.77 for county council services and a further £277.10 for adult care services – giving a total of £1,769.87.

But from April, that charge will increase to £1,858.19 – made up of a basic charge of £1,545.69 and an additional adult social care precept of £312.50.

The increase represents a 2.99% hike in the basic county council charge and a further 2% charge for adult social care.

And it means an increase of £88 a year for Band D households, equivalent to £1.70 a week.

However, when council tax bills for 2026/27 do eventually come through the door, they will be significantly higher.

They will also include additional charges for district or borough council services, the police and crime commissioner and, where relevant, a parish council.

The decision to increase the county council precept was taken as part of setting the county council's budget on Tuesday (February 17).

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Presenting the budget proposals, executive member for resources and performance Cllr Chris Lucas (Liberal Democrat) said: "In line with Government expectations, the council is proposing to increase council tax by 2.99%, plus the 2% adult social care precept for 2026/27.

"For a Band 'D' property, this will equate to around £88 per year, or £1.70 per week.

"Given the challenges that residents are facing, proposing a rise in council tax has been a very difficult decision; however, the alternative would be to make significant cuts to council services at a time when people need them the most.

"Seventy-three per cent of the council's net revenue budget is funded by council tax, and the government have assumed this maximum increase as part of the Fair Funding Review."

As a result of the increase, those living in a Band A property will see the county council element of the Council Tax increase by £58.88 this year (2025/26), from £1,179.91 to £1,238.79.

And those in the highest Band H properties will see their bills increase by £176.64, from £3,539.74 to £3,716.38.

Overall, according to the data presented to the county council, in 2026/27 the council tax charge is expected to result in £877m for the county council.

A breakdown of that data also reveals the variable amounts that are collected in each of the 10 district and borough areas.

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The highest amount expected to be collected in the 10 district and borough areas next year (2026/27) is £122.3m in East Herts. The lowest is £53.67m in Stevenage.

According to the data, the amounts expected to be collected in districts and boroughs across the county are: St Albans £120,722,330; Dacorum £112, 683,986; North Herts £95,750,672; Welwyn Hatfield £82,710,638; Hertsmere £80,127,196; Three Rivers £74,559,502; Broxbourne £68,423,387; Watford £66,314,527.

Making his first speech after stepping down as a member of the Reform group, Cllr Peter Colley, who now describes himself as a Restore Britain county councillor, said council tax should never be allowed to increase by more than the rate of inflation.

He said: "I will not be voting in favour of any motions or amendments that ask our constituents to foot the bill for failed initiatives and incompetence in finding savings.

"Council tax must only ever be allowed to increase at a maximum rate of inflation for the previous year.

"Anything else is unacceptable to myself and to all of our constituents. If those tasked with achieving that cannot accomplish it, then they should remove themselves on gaining that knowledge.

"If not, they should be removed from their position and replaced by others who can and will."

The meeting of the county council was held on Tuesday (February 17), and the webcast can be viewed at www.hertfordshire.gov.uk