Stockport Council leaders have shared details about the newly approved 2026/27 budget, which includes a 4.99 per cent increase in Council Tax for residents in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The council confirmed the budget on 26 February 2026 and stated the rise is needed to keep up with the growing costs of local services and a lack of central government funding.
For a household in a Band D property, the tax change will mean paying about £1.99 more each week. Councillor Mark Roberts, the Leader of Stockport Council, explained that over 75 per cent of the entire budget is now spent on essential social care for vulnerable children and adults.
To help balance the books, the local authority has already made £8.037 million in savings through more efficient ways of working and better technology. Jonathan Davies, the council Director of Finance, helped lead these efforts which saved over £6.5 million by improving how the council manages its contracts and digital systems.
Council leaders also pointed out that the borough receives less financial support from the government than other similar areas. They claimed that if the borough were given the same level of funding per person as comparable councils, it would have an extra £46 million to £52 million to spend on providing services for the local community.
