Stirling publishes draft budget amid £12.3m shortfall
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Stirling Council has published its draft budget for 2025-26 with a number of savings and income generation proposals included to address a £12.3 million budget gap.
Councillors will consider and make the decisions on the budget at a special meeting of council on Thursday.
Like many Scottish local authorities, Stirling is grappling with an unprecedented and ongoing financial challenge with the budget report listing the main pressures facing the council. These include the use of one-off reserves in previous years, pay inflation, rising costs, increasing demand for services and grant allocations.
The council’s recently approved medium term financial strategy has forecast that its cumulative budget gap will rise to £50.7m by 2029-30.
The savings proposals to bridge this year’s shortfall have been informed by feedback from residents and communities in the ‘Big Conversation’ which saw more than 4,300 people of all ages have their say in two surveys.
The budget report also highlighted some of the options and modelling around council tax levels which accounts for 21% of the council’s funding.
The budget reports, including the revenue budget and proposed capital programme, as well as the administration motions, can be downloaded here.
Stirling Council leader Cllr Gerry McGarvey said: “Reaching this milestone where we can share a draft budget has been a long and challenging process with the financial pressures facing the council and other local authorities well documented.
“The significant levels of feedback from residents and community groups in the two surveys and throughout the Big Conversation has been vital in helping inform these proposals – a huge thank you to everyone who has taken part.
“We recognise the strong feelings about some of the detailed savings proposals – these are difficult choices that no-one wants to make but we are bound to deliver a balanced budget and ensure the council’s financial sustainability now and in the years ahead.
“While there will be some tough decisions to make next week, there will also be opportunities to invest in our services and infrastructure to improve the lives of people across Stirling and achieve the council’s key priorities.”
You can watch the budget-setting meeting and find links to the agenda papers on the council’s online broadcasting platform.