Balancing Dorset Council’s multi-million-pound budget is no easy task – and hundreds of residents have experienced that first-hand.
More than 700 people took part in the council’s online Budget Challenge, an interactive tool that put residents in the role of councillors, asking them to make spending and council tax decisions to close a significant funding gap.
In total, 745 residents used the simulator, adjusting budgets for services such as adult social care, waste, and highways. A follow-up survey showed the exercise improved people’s understanding of council finances, with nearly 60% of respondents saying they now have a better grasp of how the budget works.
As a result, Dorset Council has reopened the tool to give more people the chance to take part.
Cllr Simon Clifford, Cabinet member for Finance and Capital Strategy, said:
“Thank you to everyone who took part in the Budget Challenge.
“It really highlights how difficult it is to balance the council’s budget while protecting the services people rely on.
“If you haven’t tried it yet, there is still time, and I’d encourage you to have a go. It’s a simple way to see how your council tax is spent.”
What did the challenge reveal?
- Most participants made small changes to everyday services. On average, waste services were reduced by less than 1%, and Highways saw a small budget increase of around 1%.
- To balance the budget, many reduced spending on adult social care – the council’s largest area of expenditure – and on corporate services (finance, democratic and electoral services).
- Participants suggested an average council tax increase of more than 7% to balance the budget.
What happens next?
Dorset Council will set out its budget proposals for 2026/27 early next year with the publication of reports for scrutiny committees. Feedback from the Budget Challenge has been shared with councillors to help inform discussions.
The Budget Simulator was designed as an engagement tool, not a formal consultation or referendum.
While the simulator showed an average council tax increase of 7%, the maximum Dorset Council could increase council tax by is 4.99%, which is the limit set by central government for councils with social care responsibilities without triggering a local referendum.
You can read find out more about the budget simulator exercise and read the full report here: budget simulator engagement report
