Council launches interactive 'Budget Builder' Consultation

Published 05 December 2025

South Ayrshire Council has launched a new interactive budget consultation ahead of the 2026/27 budget, which is due to be set in late February.

The consultation is open until Friday 30 January 2026, and allows residents to have their say via an interactive 'Budget Builder'. The new online tool means that residents can 'build their own budget' to see in real terms how increasing income and reducing costs to achieve savings could affect services across the Council.

The Council is reliant on two main sources of income - around 20% from Council Tax, and around 80% from a block grant from the Scottish Government.

Details on the exact amount of funding the Council will receive from the Scottish Government for the financial year ahead won't be confirmed until mid-January 2026. However, for 2026-27, we estimate that our funding shortfall, or 'budget gap', will be around £15.3 million. This is before any decision is made on what Council Tax increase should be added to last year's rates.

We are legally required to balance our budget, which means taking difficult decisions about where we make savings or increase charges. To help us do this, we're asking residents to take part in the interactive Budget Builder which is available here.

Councillor Ian Davis, South Ayrshire Council's Policy Lead for Finance and Corporate Services said: "Setting a balanced budget in the current financial climate is challenging, and it's vital that our decisions reflect the priorities of the people who live and work in South Ayrshire.

"We want our local communities to get involved in how we target our resources going forward. Our new Budget Builder gives residents a clear, hands-on way to see the impact of different choices, and to tell us what matters most to them. I would encourage everyone to take a few minutes to use the tool and share their views."