Hertfordshire County Council finance chiefs have published budget proposals for 2026/7, which include savings of £55m and a 4.99% hike in council tax.

Education, social care, highways, libraries, public health and the fire and rescue service are delivered by the county council.

In a report published today, officials have set out what they describe as "an ambitious and affordable" £1.2 billion budget for the delivery of those "vital services" in 2026/27.

As part of the proposals, almost half of the council's £1.2bn services budget would be allocated to adult care services (£563m) – with a further £310m allocated to children's services.

Of the remainder, £123m would be allocated to community protection, which includes the fire service, public health and trading standards.

And £133m would be allocated to 'growth and environment', which includes waste disposal and highways services, such as gritting.

According to the report, increased demand for services, rising costs and the "loss" of £42m a year in central government funding over the next three years mean Hertfordshire now faces "unprecedented financial pressures".

To balance the budget, the report highlights plans to increase income, to deliver "record levels of efficiencies and savings" and to focus on "prevention and innovation to reduce long-term costs".

According to the report, proposals include increasing council tax by 2.99% – in addition to a further 2% ring-fenced for adult social care – and drawing on £4.9m from the council's corporate reserves.

This year (2025/26), the county council element of council tax for a band D property in Hertfordshire was set at £1,769.87. According to the proposals from April, that would increase to £1,858.19.

A band A property would see the county council element of their bills increase from £1,179.91 to £1,238.79 – and a band H property from £3,539.74 to £3,716.38.

Bills paid by households also include a precept from the police and crime commissioner and from the relevant district or borough council, with some also incurring a cost from a parish council.

According to the council's budget proposals, the requirement to make £55m of savings in 2026/7 would be allocated across council departments – with adult care services allocated £13.5m, children's services £10.7m, growth and environment £4.9m, resources £4.3m, and "central items" £24.5m.

Alongside the £1.2bn revenue budget proposals, the budget also includes a capital investment programme, with plans to invest £1.3bn over the next four years.

This, according to the report, includes plans to expand SEND school places, to improve and maintain roads and transport and to provide more supported housing and care accommodation.

The draft proposals will be presented to a meeting of the council's cabinet on Wednesday (January 14).

If backed by the cabinet, proposals will be considered in a series of meetings between now and February 11 – before being put to a meeting of the full council on February 17.

Following the publication of the budget proposals, the leader of the county council, Cllr Steve Jarvis, acknowledged the financial challenges facing the council and suggested the proposals would support the council's vision for "a sustainable, inclusive and thriving Hertfordshire".

"This is an ambitious and affordable budget that earmarks extra funding for services our residents told us in our budget survey that they care about deeply," said Cllr Jarvis.

"Helping children and young people reach their full potential and supporting those most in need are among our top priorities.

"We are on your side, and these plans will support our vision for a sustainable, inclusive and thriving Hertfordshire. 

"We would like to do even more, but the financial challenges we face this year are greater than ever. Hertfordshire is among the worst affected by the Government's new funding formula for councils.

"At the same time, the demand for services for local people and the costs of delivering them are growing. 

"Even after maximising opportunities to raise more income and drive down our costs, we will also need to make some difficult choices to balance our budget, enable us to increase spending in key areas now and manage the budget challenges we face in the years ahead."