Budget 2026 - 2027
Our budget 2026 - 2027
We work hard to balance our budget for the years ahead, to ensure we make best use of resources and can continue to invest in and deliver services that support our communities.
Our budget for 2026-27 amounts to over £2.3 billion which will be spent on services for our 900,900 residents and more than 42,500 businesses.
We provide around 80% of local government services and touch the lives of every resident and business in West Sussex, as well as tens of thousands of visitors.
Services provided by us include adults’ and children’s social care, education, public health, fire and rescue, roads, libraries, trading standards, economic development, and waste disposal and recycling. Our focus is to deliver services that support our communities and vulnerable people.
However, the demand for these services costs more than the funding available, which includes council tax paid by residents.
The government published the Local Government Finance Settlement on 17 December 2025 which provided our funding allocations for 2026-27.
For further detail on previous expenditure within the key services shown, please see our budget books for previous years at: Our budget and Council Tax charges
Our priorities
Our Council Plan sets out our key priorities which shape the way we deliver services.
They are:
- keeping people safe from vulnerable situations
- a sustainable and prosperous economy
- helping people and communities fulfil their potential
- making the best use of resources
- maximise the benefits of devolution and local government reorganisation for our residents and communities
These priorities are all underpinned with a cross-cutting theme of protecting the environment.
Our council plan ensures we match available resources with the delivery of our priorities and provides assurance that we are making the very best use of the resources available.
Budget timeline
All members of the County Council met on 20 February 2026 to approve the Council Plan and final budget for 2026-2027. Listen to the webcast.
Previous news
20/2/26: Balanced budget and increased investment agreed by county council
3/2/26: Next steps for budget and new combined authority agreed by Cabinet
28/1/26: Next steps for West Sussex County Council budget set out following scrutiny committee meeting
22/10/25: Cabinet agrees to proceed with devolution and hears latest budget position
12/8/25: West Sussex County Council Cabinet Members write to the government to call for SEND reforms
14/2/25: County council agrees a balanced budget without cuts to services
21/1/25: County Council leaders draw attention to serious challenges in adults’ social care
You can subscribe to receive our Residents’ eNewsletter, which is issued regularly and includes information about a wide range of council services, projects and initiatives, as well as budget updates.
Help and advice
There is help available if you need support with any aspect of your home finance or budgeting.
For advice and guidance on paying your council tax, contact your local district or borough council to see if you are eligible for a discount or exemption.
Further advice about local and national support can be found on our cost of living pages.