Kent County Council approved a 3.99 per cent council tax increase on February 12, 2026, which will affect households in Folkestone, Kent. This decision was made during a full council meeting to finalize the budget and service spending for the 2026/27 financial year.
For a typical Band D property, the 3.99 per cent rise means residents will pay an extra £67.41 on their annual bill. The new rate was set below the national 5 per cent limit, as council leaders aimed to keep the increase lower than the maximum allowed by the government.
The council plans to spend £787.5 million on adult social care and £423 million on children’s services, which are the two largest areas of the £1.65 billion budget. These funds are used to support vulnerable adults and provide essential care for families throughout the county.
The budget was passed with 48 members voting in favour and 26 voting against the plan. While the new administration described the budget as a sensible approach, some members raised concerns about the use of £29.8 million from council savings to help balance the books for the coming year.
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