Swale Borough Council has announced it will reduce its portion of the council tax for the 2026/27 financial year to help people in Sittingbourne, Kent, with their living costs. This decision, shared on February 14, 2026, is intended to provide direct relief to households after several years of rising prices.
The reduction follows a 2.96 per cent tax increase last year, which set the rate for a average Band D property at £206.64. According to Swale Borough Council, leaders are now focused on balancing the budget while passing on savings to local residents.
Council leader Cllr Tim Gibson said the plan aims to ease the pressure on family budgets. The council has been able to make this move by using a new Recovery Grant from the government, which is designed to help local authorities become more financially stable.
For people living in Sittingbourne, the change is particularly important because the town does not have a separate town council tax. This means the borough council’s decision has a more direct effect on the total bill residents receive. While the borough’s share is going down, the final bill will still be affected by whether Kent County Council or the police decide to increase their portions of the tax.
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