Our budget
2027 to 2028 budget
Every year we set a budget to decide how much money will be spent on services.
We need to manage the challenge of significant spending demands and cost increases within the funding available, which mainly comes from Council Tax and the government. This requires tough choices about priorities for the future.
From the 30 June to 7 September, we asked for your views on:
- priorities for making savings across our different service areas
- how we could save money and increase income
- our Council Tax options.
Your responses will be considered by county councillors at Cabinet Committee meetings, before the budget proposals are finalised and considered for approval by County Council in February 2027.
The consultation report containing your feedback will be available from the consultation webpage in November.
2026 to 2027 budget
Kent County Council approved its 2026 to 2027 revenue budget, 2026 to 2029 medium term financial plan and 2026 to 2036 capital budget at a full council meeting on 12 February 2026.
The full County Council webcast can be viewed below:
Details can be found in our:
- Budget book 2026 to 2027 (PDF, 13.5 MB) - including the 2026 to 2036 capital investment plans by directorate and the 2026 to 2027 revenue budget by directorate and key service presentation.
2026 to 2027 revenue budget
How we spend our annual revenue budget
We provide a huge range of essential services to Kent residents, spending over £2.8 billion (excluding schools) each year.
For every £100 we spend, this is how it is split between the various services we provide:
| Service | Total spend (per £100) |
|---|---|
| Adults and older people | £35 |
| Children's social care | £13 |
| Children's other services | £13 |
| Schools and high needs | £7 |
| Transport services | £6 |
| Management, support services and overheads | £5 |
| Borrowing costs, reserves and other corporate costs | £5 |
| Waste services | £4 |
| Public health | £3 |
| Highways | £2 |
| Community services | £2 |
| Costs of running our operational premises | £2 |
| Other direct services to the public | £2 |
| Schools’ services | £1 |
How our annual revenue budget is funded
Funding for our revenue budget comes from many sources. 37% of our total annual expenditure budget (excluding schools) is funded from money we receive from Council Tax.
Each year we set a budget to decide how much we're able to spend on services for Kent residents and businesses for the next financial year, compared to how much income we're likely to get from government and local taxation (Council Tax and business rates) to fund this.
For every £100 in funding we receive, this is how it is split between the different sources of income:
| Funding source | Amount (per £100) |
|---|---|
| Council Tax | £37 |
| Grants (ringfenced for a specific purpose) | £29 |
| Income from service users | £16 |
| Grants (unringfenced) | £15 |
| Business rates | £3 |
2026 to 2036 capital budget
How we spend our capital budget
The capital budget for 2026 to 2036 is £1,967 million (nearly £2 billion). The summary below shows what this is spent on:
| Service | Amount in £million |
|---|---|
| Highways, structures and waste enhancement | £1,146 |
| Other highway and transport improvements | £296 |
| Other school projects | £211 |
| Additional school places | £181 |
| Modernisation and improved utilisation of council premises | £84 |
| Economic development initiatives | £40 |
| Community projects | £6 |
| Adults, social care and health | £3 |
How our capital budget is funded
Funding for our capital budget comes from many sources. Over 70% comes from grant funding and around 18% is borrowed.
| Service | Amount in £million |
|---|---|
| Grants | £1,379 |
| Borrowing | £354 |
| Developer contributions | £100 |
| Revenue contributions | £75 |
| Recycling of loan repayments | £38 |
| Other external funding | £15 |
| Capital Receipts | £6 |
(Figures subject to rounding).