# Where your council tax goes in Bolton url: https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/council-tax/england/bolton/where-it-goes/ updated: 29 September 2026 licence: Our words, analysis, charts and derived calculations: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), credit [Tekstak Ltd](https://tek-stak.co.uk). Figures: each source's own licence, listed under Sources. publisher: [Tekstak Ltd](https://tek-stak.co.uk) # Where your council tax goes in Bolton Last updated 29 September 2026. Figures refresh every night. [How each figure is worked out](/methodology/). A Band D council tax bill in **Bolton** is **£2,399.74** for 2026-27, split between Bolton £1,915.88, Bolton: adult social care precept, this year's increase £37.20, Greater Manchester Police £285.30, Greater Manchester Combined Authority £153.95, Parish and town councils (average for the area) £7.41. Shared out in proportion to what each body spends, the largest single line is adult social care at Bolton: **£654.91** of the bill. Council tax pays for 16% of the council's own spending; the rest is government grant, business rates and fees. Figures for the 2026–27 financial year. Source: [Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government](https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/council-tax-statistics). ## Key figures - £2,399.74Band D bill, 2026-27 As of 6 April 2026 - £1,915.88Goes to Bolton itself (80%) As of 6 April 2026 - £654.91Largest line: adult social care As of 28 September 2026 - 15.8%Of the council's money that comes from council tax, 2025-26 As of 28 September 2026 Source: [Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government](https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/council-tax-statistics). ## Who gets your bill Your council tax band A B C D E F G H Figures are for a **Band D** home. Bands A to H pay a fixed fraction of this, set in law. 1915.88 37.20 285.30 153.95 7.41 Bolton 80%Bolton: adult social care precept, this year's increase 2%Greater Manchester Police 12%Greater Manchester Combined Authority 6%Parish and town councils (average for the area) 0% Parish precepts differ from parish to parish; this is the average across the area, and a home outside any parish pays none. ## And where does that bit go? Choose any part of the bill to see how it divides, then keep going as far as the published returns allow. Every level has its own link you can share. ### Where the rest comes from **Council tax pays for 15.8%** of the money Bolton had to spend in 2025-26. ********** - Council tax 15.8% £150.0m - Business rates 16.6% £158.2m - Government grants for specific services 48.1% £457.4m - Fees, charges and other income 19.0% £180.6m - Taken from reserves 0.6% £5.4m Council tax is pooled with the council's other money, not ring-fenced for any service. The split on this page shares your bill out in proportion to what each body spends; it does not say what any one pound paid for. - Your bill ### Your bill: £2,399.74 - [Bolton](#d-council) £1,915.88 ** Your council · 79.8% of the bill - [Bolton: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) £37.20 ** Adult social care precept · 1.6% of the bill - [Greater Manchester Police](#d-police) £285.30 ** Police · 11.9% of the bill - [Greater Manchester Combined Authority](#d-combined) £153.95 ** Combined authority (mayor) · 6.4% of the bill - Parish and town councils (average for the area) £7.41 ** Parish or town council · 0.3% of the bill. Parish, town and community councils do not file spending returns with the government, so there is no national breakdown. Each publishes its own annual accounts. - [Your bill](#d-bill) - Bolton ### Bolton £1,915.88 of your bill goes to Bolton. It is shared out below in proportion to how Bolton spent its money in 2025-26, its latest published return. - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) £654.91 ** 34.2% of this part · £137.3m in 2025-26 · £443 per resident; similar councils £496 · up 10.3% on 2024-25 - [Children's social care](#d-council~childrens-social-care) £520.80 ** 27.2% of this part · £109.2m in 2025-26 · £352 per resident; similar councils £322 · up 18.0% on 2024-25 - [Education](#d-council~education) £230.54 ** 12.0% of this part · £310.0m in 2025-26 · £1,001 per resident; similar councils £801 · up 6.4% on 2024-25 - [Public health](#d-council~public-health) £104.01 ** 5.4% of this part · £21.8m in 2025-26 · £70 per resident; similar councils £95 · up 0.3% on 2024-25 - [Environment and regulation](#d-council~environment) £87.56 ** 4.6% of this part · £18.4m in 2025-26 · £59 per resident; similar councils £77 · up 3.6% on 2024-25 - [Running the council](#d-council~central) £75.96 ** 4.0% of this part · £15.9m in 2025-26 · £51 per resident; similar councils £62 · down 50.9% on 2024-25 - [Parks, leisure, libraries and culture](#d-council~culture-leisure) £62.47 ** 3.3% of this part · £13.1m in 2025-26 · £42 per resident; similar councils £49 · up 20.3% on 2024-25 - [Housing (not council homes)](#d-council~housing) £52.30 ** 2.7% of this part · £11.0m in 2025-26 · £35 per resident; similar councils £40 · up 12.1% on 2024-25 Not council homes: [see the note](#d-council~housing). - Other services £51.16 ** 2.7% of this part · £10.7m in 2025-26 · £35 per resident; similar councils £0.21 - [Planning and development](#d-council~planning-development) £42.50 ** 2.2% of this part · £8.9m in 2025-26 · £29 per resident; similar councils £29 · up 46.7% on 2024-25 - [Roads and transport](#d-council~highways-transport) £33.67 ** 1.8% of this part · £7.1m in 2025-26 · £23 per resident; similar councils £35 · up 16.0% on 2024-25 Before sharing out your bill, the part of education paid for by the Dedicated Schools Grant (£261.7m) is taken off, because council tax does not pay for it. **Which councils count as similar** Medians are across the 10 metropolitan borough councils closest in population: Stockport, Newcastle, Salford, Doncaster, Walsall, Wirral, Sefton, Dudley, Sunderland, Wolverhampton. Per-resident figures use ONS mid-year population estimates. - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bolton](#d-council) - Adult social care ### Adult social care £654.91 of your bill goes to adult social care at Bolton. Here is how its £137.3m of net spending on it divides in the return. - [Physical support](#d-council~adult-social-care.physical) £201.87 ** 30.8% of this · £42.3m in 2025-26 · £137 per resident; similar councils £158 · up 15.1% on 2024-25 - [Learning disability support](#d-council~adult-social-care.learning-disability) £195.76 ** 29.9% of this · £41.0m in 2025-26 · £132 per resident; similar councils £162 · up 16.2% on 2024-25 - [Mental health support](#d-council~adult-social-care.mental-health) £88.35 ** 13.5% of this · £18.5m in 2025-26 · £60 per resident; similar councils £44 · up 11.5% on 2024-25 - Care assessment and safeguarding £72.66 ** 11.1% of this · £15.2m in 2025-26 · £49 per resident; similar councils £49 · up 12.2% on 2024-25 - [Support with memory and cognition](#d-council~adult-social-care.memory) £37.29 ** 5.7% of this · £7.8m in 2025-26 · £25 per resident; similar councils £22 · up 17.0% on 2024-25 - Commissioning, strategy and administration £25.99 ** 4.0% of this · £5.4m in 2025-26 · £18 per resident; similar councils £31 · down 41.2% on 2024-25 - Social support (carers, substance misuse, isolation, asylum) £25.88 ** 4.0% of this · £5.4m in 2025-26 · £18 per resident; similar councils £7.44 · up 19.6% on 2024-25 - Assistive equipment and technology £3.50 ** 0.5% of this · £733k in 2025-26 · £2.37 per resident; similar councils £3.36 · down 13.0% on 2024-25 - [Sensory support](#d-council~adult-social-care.sensory) £3.24 ** 0.5% of this · £679k in 2025-26 · £2.19 per resident; similar councils £1.71 · down 12.8% on 2024-25 - Information and early intervention £0.38 ** under 0.1% of this · £80k in 2025-26 · £0.26 per resident; similar councils £2.35 · up 1.3% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bolton](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Physical support ### Physical support £201.87 of your bill goes to physical support at Bolton. Here is how its £42.3m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £155.18 ** 76.9% of this · £32.5m in 2025-26 · £105 per resident; similar councils £126 · up 13.5% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £46.69 ** 23.1% of this · £9.8m in 2025-26 · £32 per resident; similar councils £34 · up 21.0% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bolton](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Learning disability support ### Learning disability support £195.76 of your bill goes to learning disability support at Bolton. Here is how its £41.0m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £178.22 ** 91.0% of this · £37.4m in 2025-26 · £121 per resident; similar councils £147 · up 17.3% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £17.54 ** 9.0% of this · £3.7m in 2025-26 · £12 per resident; similar councils £17 · up 5.9% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bolton](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Mental health support ### Mental health support £88.35 of your bill goes to mental health support at Bolton. Here is how its £18.5m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £58.57 ** 66.3% of this · £12.3m in 2025-26 · £40 per resident; similar councils £28 · up 21.4% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £29.79 ** 33.7% of this · £6.2m in 2025-26 · £20 per resident; similar councils £17 · down 3.9% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bolton](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Support with memory and cognition ### Support with memory and cognition £37.29 of your bill goes to support with memory and cognition at Bolton. Here is how its £7.8m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £34.25 ** 91.9% of this · £7.2m in 2025-26 · £23 per resident; similar councils £19 · up 15.7% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £3.03 ** 8.1% of this · £636k in 2025-26 · £2.05 per resident; similar councils £2.53 · up 33.9% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bolton](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Sensory support ### Sensory support £3.24 of your bill goes to sensory support at Bolton. Here is how its £679k of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £1.68 ** 52.0% of this · £353k in 2025-26 · £1.14 per resident; similar councils £0.82 · down 8.1% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £1.56 ** 48.0% of this · £326k in 2025-26 · £1.05 per resident; similar councils £1.16 · down 17.5% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bolton](#d-council) - Children's social care ### Children's social care £520.80 of your bill goes to children's social care at Bolton. Here is how its £109.2m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Children looked after £365.89 ** 70.3% of this · £76.7m in 2025-26 · £248 per resident; similar councils £180 · up 19.6% on 2024-25 - Family support £60.48 ** 11.6% of this · £12.7m in 2025-26 · £41 per resident; similar councils £36 · up 27.3% on 2024-25 - Safeguarding and social work £58.79 ** 11.3% of this · £12.3m in 2025-26 · £40 per resident; similar councils £75 · up 4.2% on 2024-25 - Children's centres and early years £21.14 ** 4.1% of this · £4.4m in 2025-26 · £14 per resident; similar councils £8.19 · up 12.7% on 2024-25 - Services for young people £7.77 ** 1.5% of this · £1.6m in 2025-26 · £5.26 per resident; similar councils £5.32 · up 20.3% on 2024-25 - Youth justice £6.65 ** 1.3% of this · £1.4m in 2025-26 · £4.50 per resident; similar councils £6.34 · up 6.7% on 2024-25 - Other children's and families' services £0.09 ** under 0.1% of this · £18k in 2025-26 · £0.06 per resident; similar councils £4.90 · no change on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bolton](#d-council) - Education ### Education £230.54 of your bill goes to education at Bolton. Here is how its £310.0m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Primary schools £104.58 ** 45.4% of this · £140.6m in 2025-26 · £454 per resident; similar councils £323 · up 2.8% on 2024-25 - Secondary schools £41.92 ** 18.2% of this · £56.4m in 2025-26 · £182 per resident; similar councils £111 · down 3.2% on 2024-25 - Early years and nursery £37.46 ** 16.3% of this · £50.4m in 2025-26 · £163 per resident; similar councils £143 · up 32.6% on 2024-25 - Special schools and alternative provision £29.24 ** 12.7% of this · £39.3m in 2025-26 · £127 per resident; similar councils £148 · up 4.8% on 2024-25 - Other education £10.67 ** 4.6% of this · £14.4m in 2025-26 · £46 per resident; similar councils £75 · up 6.7% on 2024-25 - Post-16 £6.66 ** 2.9% of this · £9.0m in 2025-26 · £29 per resident; similar councils £18 · up 21.9% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bolton](#d-council) - Public health ### Public health £104.01 of your bill goes to public health at Bolton. Here is how its £21.8m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Drug and alcohol services £34.13 ** 32.8% of this · £7.2m in 2025-26 · £23 per resident; similar councils £27 · up 5.4% on 2024-25 - Health visiting and children's 0-5 services £23.44 ** 22.5% of this · £4.9m in 2025-26 · £16 per resident; similar councils £21 · down 10.0% on 2024-25 - Children's 5-19 programmes £12.10 ** 11.6% of this · £2.5m in 2025-26 · £8.19 per resident; similar councils £6.38 · down 3.5% on 2024-25 - Sexual health £11.06 ** 10.6% of this · £2.3m in 2025-26 · £7.49 per resident; similar councils £9.88 · up 4.1% on 2024-25 - Obesity and physical activity £6.91 ** 6.6% of this · £1.4m in 2025-26 · £4.68 per resident; similar councils £8.46 · up 1.8% on 2024-25 - NHS health checks and health protection £6.33 ** 6.1% of this · £1.3m in 2025-26 · £4.28 per resident; similar councils £5.08 · up 12.3% on 2024-25 - Stop smoking and tobacco control £4.54 ** 4.4% of this · £952k in 2025-26 · £3.07 per resident; similar councils £3.31 · down 10.5% on 2024-25 - Other public health £4.42 ** 4.2% of this · £926k in 2025-26 · £2.99 per resident; similar councils £14 · up 17.2% on 2024-25 - Public mental health £1.07 ** 1.0% of this · £225k in 2025-26 · £0.73 per resident; similar councils £1.99 · up 19.7% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bolton](#d-council) - Environment and regulation ### Environment and regulation £87.56 of your bill goes to environment and regulation at Bolton. Here is how its £18.4m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Waste collection £48.57 ** 55.5% of this · £10.5m in 2025-26 · £34 per resident; similar councils £17 · down 0.2% on 2024-25 - Street cleaning £13.21 ** 15.1% of this · £2.9m in 2025-26 · £9.21 per resident; similar councils £15 · down 3.1% on 2024-25 - Community safety and CCTV £12.73 ** 14.5% of this · £2.7m in 2025-26 · £8.87 per resident; similar councils £5.65 · up 29.7% on 2024-25 - Environmental health, food safety, pest control and licensing £11.68 ** 13.3% of this · £2.5m in 2025-26 · £8.14 per resident; similar councils £6.09 · up 17.4% on 2024-25 - Trading standards £1.37 ** 1.6% of this · £296k in 2025-26 · £0.96 per resident; similar councils £1.36 · up 6.9% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bolton](#d-council) - Running the council ### Running the council £75.96 of your bill goes to running the council at Bolton. Here is how its £15.9m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Local welfare assistance £25.99 ** 34.2% of this · £5.5m in 2025-26 · £18 per resident; similar councils £15 · down 7.0% on 2024-25 - Corporate and democratic core £22.02 ** 29.0% of this · £4.6m in 2025-26 · £15 per resident; similar councils £23 · up 3.6% on 2024-25 - Collecting council tax and business rates £7.64 ** 10.1% of this · £1.6m in 2025-26 · £5.18 per resident; similar councils £8.64 · down 15.6% on 2024-25 - Other central services £6.01 ** 7.9% of this · £1.3m in 2025-26 · £4.07 per resident; similar councils £-0.47 · down 92.0% on 2024-25 - Coroners' and other courts £4.72 ** 6.2% of this · £990k in 2025-26 · £3.20 per resident; similar councils £2.31 · up 6.9% on 2024-25 - Non-distributed costs (past pensions, unused assets) £4.48 ** 5.9% of this · £940k in 2025-26 · £3.03 per resident; similar councils £6.49 · down 18.3% on 2024-25 - Elections and electoral registration £3.40 ** 4.5% of this · £714k in 2025-26 · £2.31 per resident; similar councils £2.36 · down 65.1% on 2024-25 - Emergency planning £1.71 ** 2.2% of this · £358k in 2025-26 · £1.16 per resident; similar councils £0.49 · up 6.5% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bolton](#d-council) - Parks, leisure, libraries and culture ### Parks, leisure, libraries and culture £62.47 of your bill goes to parks, leisure, libraries and culture at Bolton. Here is how its £13.1m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Libraries £21.45 ** 34.3% of this · £4.5m in 2025-26 · £15 per resident; similar councils £12 · up 17.2% on 2024-25 - Parks and open spaces (including play areas) £17.87 ** 28.6% of this · £3.7m in 2025-26 · £12 per resident; similar councils £15 · up 33.4% on 2024-25 - Sport and leisure £11.99 ** 19.2% of this · £2.5m in 2025-26 · £8.11 per resident; similar councils £9.49 · up 16.6% on 2024-25 - Museums, arts, heritage and archives £10.92 ** 17.5% of this · £2.3m in 2025-26 · £7.39 per resident; similar councils £9.69 · up 12.8% on 2024-25 - Community centres and public halls £0.24 ** 0.4% of this · £51k in 2025-26 · £0.16 per resident; similar councils £1.12 · down 5.6% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bolton](#d-council) - Housing (not council homes) ### Housing (not council homes) £52.30 of your bill goes to housing (not council homes) at Bolton. Here is how its £11.0m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Homelessness and temporary accommodation £28.87 ** 55.2% of this · £6.1m in 2025-26 · £20 per resident; similar councils £16 · up 13.6% on 2024-25 - Housing benefit administration and discretionary payments £9.82 ** 18.8% of this · £2.1m in 2025-26 · £6.65 per resident; similar councils £5.18 · up 31.3% on 2024-25 - Supporting People and welfare services £7.82 ** 15.0% of this · £1.6m in 2025-26 · £5.29 per resident; similar councils £3.36 · down 10.0% on 2024-25 - Housing strategy, advice and enabling £3.42 ** 6.5% of this · £717k in 2025-26 · £2.31 per resident; similar councils £0.82 · up 27.6% on 2024-25 - Other General Fund housing £2.36 ** 4.5% of this · £495k in 2025-26 · £1.60 per resident; similar councils £0.00 · down 0.8% on 2024-25 **Council homes are not in this.** Council housing is paid for through the Housing Revenue Account, from tenants' rents, and the law keeps it separate from the General Fund that council tax goes into. Bolton reported no Housing Revenue Account for 2025-26: it has no council homes of its own, or they were transferred to a housing association. [What council tax does and doesn't pay for](/what-council-tax-pays-for/#ring-fence). - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bolton](#d-council) - Planning and development ### Planning and development £42.50 of your bill goes to planning and development at Bolton. Here is how its £8.9m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Economic development and business support £27.94 ** 65.7% of this · £5.9m in 2025-26 · £19 per resident; similar councils £21 · up 105.9% on 2024-25 - Community development £8.51 ** 20.0% of this · £1.8m in 2025-26 · £5.76 per resident; similar councils £7.82 · up 9.8% on 2024-25 - Planning policy £3.73 ** 8.8% of this · £782k in 2025-26 · £2.52 per resident; similar councils £3.47 · up 145.9% on 2024-25 - Planning applications (development management) £1.32 ** 3.1% of this · £276k in 2025-26 · £0.89 per resident; similar councils £2.10 · down 76.1% on 2024-25 - Building control £1.00 ** 2.4% of this · £210k in 2025-26 · £0.68 per resident; similar councils £0.97 · up 59.1% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bolton](#d-council) - Roads and transport ### Roads and transport £33.67 of your bill goes to roads and transport at Bolton. Here is how its £7.1m of net spending on it divides in the return. - [Road and bridge maintenance](#d-council~highways-transport.maintenance) £14.36 ** 42.6% of this · £3.5m in 2025-26 · £11 per resident; similar councils £14 · up 138.4% on 2024-25 - Street lighting (including energy) £12.59 ** 37.4% of this · £3.0m in 2025-26 · £9.78 per resident; similar councils £9.82 · down 9.9% on 2024-25 - Transport planning and policy £3.38 ** 10.0% of this · £814k in 2025-26 · £2.63 per resident; similar councils £4.67 · no change on 2024-25 - Winter service (gritting) £3.35 ** 9.9% of this · £805k in 2025-26 · £2.60 per resident; similar councils £2.25 · down 0.7% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bolton](#d-council) - [Roads and transport](#d-council~highways-transport) - Road and bridge maintenance ### Road and bridge maintenance £14.36 of your bill goes to road and bridge maintenance at Bolton. Here is how its £3.5m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Structural maintenance (resurfacing, bridges) £7.18 ** 50.0% of this · £1.7m in 2025-26 · £5.58 per resident; similar councils £4.86 · up 2732.8% on 2024-25 - Environmental, safety and routine maintenance £7.17 ** 50.0% of this · £1.7m in 2025-26 · £5.57 per resident; similar councils £9.73 · up 24.4% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - Bolton: adult social care precept, this year's increase ### Bolton: adult social care precept, this year's increase £37.20 of your bill is this year's adult social care precept, which councils may raise on top of the usual limit for adult social care. It is shown against how Bolton's adult social care spending of £137.3m divided in 2025-26. MHCLG publishes only this year's increase; the running total since 2016-17 printed on your bill is in the council part above. - [Physical support](#d-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.physical) £11.47 ** 30.8% of this precept · £42.3m in 2025-26 · £137 per resident; similar councils £158 · up 15.1% on 2024-25 - [Learning disability support](#d-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.learning-disability) £11.12 ** 29.9% of this precept · £41.0m in 2025-26 · £132 per resident; similar councils £162 · up 16.2% on 2024-25 - [Mental health support](#d-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.mental-health) £5.02 ** 13.5% of this precept · £18.5m in 2025-26 · £60 per resident; similar councils £44 · up 11.5% on 2024-25 - Care assessment and safeguarding £4.13 ** 11.1% of this precept · £15.2m in 2025-26 · £49 per resident; similar councils £49 · up 12.2% on 2024-25 - [Support with memory and cognition](#d-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.memory) £2.12 ** 5.7% of this precept · £7.8m in 2025-26 · £25 per resident; similar councils £22 · up 17.0% on 2024-25 - Commissioning, strategy and administration £1.48 ** 4.0% of this precept · £5.4m in 2025-26 · £18 per resident; similar councils £31 · down 41.2% on 2024-25 - Social support (carers, substance misuse, isolation, asylum) £1.47 ** 4.0% of this precept · £5.4m in 2025-26 · £18 per resident; similar councils £7.44 · up 19.6% on 2024-25 - Assistive equipment and technology £0.20 ** 0.5% of this precept · £733k in 2025-26 · £2.37 per resident; similar councils £3.36 · down 13.0% on 2024-25 - [Sensory support](#d-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.sensory) £0.18 ** 0.5% of this precept · £679k in 2025-26 · £2.19 per resident; similar councils £1.71 · down 12.8% on 2024-25 - Information and early intervention £0.02 ** under 0.1% of this precept · £80k in 2025-26 · £0.26 per resident; similar councils £2.35 · up 1.3% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bolton: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Physical support ### Physical support £11.47 of your bill goes to physical support at Bolton. Here is how its £42.3m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £8.81 ** 76.9% of this · £32.5m in 2025-26 · £105 per resident; similar councils £126 · up 13.5% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £2.65 ** 23.1% of this · £9.8m in 2025-26 · £32 per resident; similar councils £34 · up 21.0% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bolton: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Learning disability support ### Learning disability support £11.12 of your bill goes to learning disability support at Bolton. Here is how its £41.0m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £10.12 ** 91.0% of this · £37.4m in 2025-26 · £121 per resident; similar councils £147 · up 17.3% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £1.00 ** 9.0% of this · £3.7m in 2025-26 · £12 per resident; similar councils £17 · up 5.9% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bolton: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Mental health support ### Mental health support £5.02 of your bill goes to mental health support at Bolton. Here is how its £18.5m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £3.33 ** 66.3% of this · £12.3m in 2025-26 · £40 per resident; similar councils £28 · up 21.4% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £1.69 ** 33.7% of this · £6.2m in 2025-26 · £20 per resident; similar councils £17 · down 3.9% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bolton: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Support with memory and cognition ### Support with memory and cognition £2.12 of your bill goes to support with memory and cognition at Bolton. Here is how its £7.8m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £1.95 ** 91.9% of this · £7.2m in 2025-26 · £23 per resident; similar councils £19 · up 15.7% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £0.17 ** 8.1% of this · £636k in 2025-26 · £2.05 per resident; similar councils £2.53 · up 33.9% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bolton: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Sensory support ### Sensory support £0.18 of your bill goes to sensory support at Bolton. Here is how its £679k of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £0.10 ** 52.0% of this · £353k in 2025-26 · £1.14 per resident; similar councils £0.82 · down 8.1% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £0.09 ** 48.0% of this · £326k in 2025-26 · £1.05 per resident; similar councils £1.16 · down 17.5% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - Greater Manchester Police ### Greater Manchester Police £285.30 of your bill is this year's adult social care precept, which councils may raise on top of the usual limit for adult social care. It is shown against how Greater Manchester Police's adult social care spending of £974.0m divided in 2025-26. MHCLG publishes only this year's increase; the running total since 2016-17 printed on your bill is in the council part above. - [Your bill](#d-bill) - Greater Manchester Combined Authority ### Greater Manchester Combined Authority £153.95 of your bill goes to Greater Manchester Combined Authority. It is shared out below in proportion to how Greater Manchester Combined Authority spent its money in 2025-26, its latest published return. - Roads and transport £64.37 ** 41.8% of this part · £377.3m in 2025-26 · £125 per resident · up 9.4% on 2024-25 - [Planning and development](#d-combined~planning-development) £38.36 ** 24.9% of this part · £224.8m in 2025-26 · £75 per resident · up 2.8% on 2024-25 - Fire and rescue £25.78 ** 16.7% of this part · £151.1m in 2025-26 · £50 per resident · up 6.5% on 2024-25 - Environment and regulation £19.68 ** 12.8% of this part · £115.4m in 2025-26 · £38 per resident · up 4.7% on 2024-25 - Running the council £2.74 ** 1.8% of this part · £16.0m in 2025-26 · £5.31 per resident · down 54.0% on 2024-25 - Housing (not council homes) £2.17 ** 1.4% of this part · £12.7m in 2025-26 · £4.21 per resident · up 83.9% on 2024-25 Not council homes: [see the note](#d-combined). - Parks, leisure, libraries and culture £0.85 ** 0.5% of this part · £5.0m in 2025-26 · £1.64 per resident · up 10.3% on 2024-25 **Council homes are not in this.** Council housing is paid for through the Housing Revenue Account, from tenants' rents, and the law keeps it separate from the General Fund that council tax goes into. Greater Manchester Combined Authority reported no Housing Revenue Account for 2025-26: it has no council homes of its own, or they were transferred to a housing association. [What council tax does and doesn't pay for](/what-council-tax-pays-for/#ring-fence). No similar-council comparison: no comparison: no other body does the same mix of things. - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Greater Manchester Combined Authority](#d-combined) - Planning and development ### Planning and development £38.36 of your bill goes to planning and development at Greater Manchester Combined Authority. Here is how its £224.8m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Economic development and business support £37.64 ** 98.1% of this · £220.6m in 2025-26 · £73 per resident · up 1.8% on 2024-25 - Environmental initiatives £0.72 ** 1.9% of this · £4.2m in 2025-26 · £1.40 per resident · up 99.6% on 2024-25 ## Parks, street cleaning and roads here What Bolton spent, net of income, on the lines readers ask about most. Roads and street cleaning are also shown per mile of road the council looks after, where it is the highway authority. Gully cleaning and verge cutting are inside routine maintenance; no return splits them out. | Line | Net spending | Per resident | Similar councils, per resident | Per mile of road | Change | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Parks and open spaces (including play areas)Details | £3.7m | £12 | £15 | — | up 33.4% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£12Similar councils, per resident£15Per mile of road—Changeup 33.4% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Street cleaningDetails | £2.9m | £9.21 | £15 | £4,622 (similar: £7,702) | down 3.1% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£9.21Similar councils, per resident£15Per mile of road£4,622 (similar: £7,702)Changedown 3.1% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Road and bridge maintenanceDetails | £3.5m | £11 | £14 | £5,598 (similar: £7,077) | up 138.4% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£11Similar councils, per resident£14Per mile of road£5,598 (similar: £7,077)Changeup 138.4% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Environmental, safety and routine maintenanceDetails | £1.7m | £5.57 | £9.73 | £2,797 (similar: £4,553) | up 24.4% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£5.57Similar councils, per resident£9.73Per mile of road£2,797 (similar: £4,553)Changeup 24.4% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Structural maintenance (resurfacing, bridges)Details | £1.7m | £5.58 | £4.86 | £2,801 (similar: £1,904) | up 2732.8% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£5.58Similar councils, per resident£4.86Per mile of road£2,801 (similar: £1,904)Changeup 2732.8% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Winter service (gritting)Details | £805k | £2.60 | £2.25 | £1,305 (similar: £1,208) | down 0.7% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£2.60Similar councils, per resident£2.25Per mile of road£1,305 (similar: £1,208)Changedown 0.7% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Street lighting (including energy)Details | £3.0m | £9.78 | £9.82 | £4,908 (similar: £4,908) | down 9.9% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£9.78Similar councils, per resident£9.82Per mile of road£4,908 (similar: £4,908)Changedown 9.9% on 2024-25 | | | | | | Miles of road: Department for Transport road lengths, 2025; locally managed major roads and all minor roads. More on [what council tax does and doesn't pay for](/what-council-tax-pays-for/#local-environment). ## What it adds up to | Service | Per resident | Median | | --- | --- | --- | | EducationDetails | £1,001 | £869 | | Median£869 | | | | Adult social careDetails | £443 | £482 | | Median£482 | | | | Children's social careDetails | £352 | £337 | | Median£337 | | | | Public healthDetails | £70 | £93 | | Median£93 | | | | Environment and regulationDetails | £59 | £93 | | Median£93 | | | | Running the councilDetails | £51 | £60 | | Median£60 | | | | Parks, leisure, libraries and cultureDetails | £42 | £50 | | Median£50 | | | | Housing (not council homes)Details | £35 | £39 | | Median£39 | | | | Other servicesDetails | £35 | £0.34 | | Median£0.34 | | | | Planning and developmentDetails | £29 | £28 | | Median£28 | | | | Roads and transportDetails | £23 | £29 | | Median£29 | | | - Bolton spent **36.7%** of its gross service spending on its own staff in 2025-26 (median for metropolitan borough councils: 33.6%); the rest went on suppliers, contractors, grants, benefits and other running costs. ## What this data does and doesn't show - These are each body's own figures, as reported to government in its revenue outturn return. Net spending is after the fees, charges and grants a service brings in. - Your bill is for 2026-27; it is shared out using the latest published return, which covers an earlier year. The mix of spending changes little from one year to the next, but it does change. - Council tax is not ring-fenced: this shows your bill in proportion to spending, not what your money bought. Where a precept is set aside for adult social care, it is shown against adult social care. - No council publishes spending at street or property level, so nothing here says what was spent near you. - Sub-service lines are the ones the national returns itemise. Councils describe their own budgets differently; their budget books and statements of accounts have more detail. ## Sources - Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, [Council Tax levels set by local authorities in England: Table 10, local authority level data](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a02eeeccd2e0e8b5b20b449/Table_10_2026-27.ods), published 25 March 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. - Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, [Local authority revenue expenditure and financing: Revenue Outturn multi-year data set](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6ab26ffffe72ed1e2b02ee74/Revenue_Outturn_time_series_data_v4.csv), published 28 September 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. How the split is worked out, and how the three nations' returns are matched to one list of services, is on the [methodology page](/methodology/#council-spending). The dataset is on the [data page](/data/#council-spending). See also [council tax in Bolton](/council-tax/england/bolton/) and [everything else about Bolton](/your-area/bolton/). ## Common questions What does council tax pay for in Bolton? A Band D bill of £2,399.74 is split between Bolton, Bolton: adult social care precept, this year's increase, Greater Manchester Police, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Parish and town councils (average for the area). In proportion to spending, the largest line is adult social care, £654.91.Is council tax ring-fenced for particular services? No. Council tax is pooled with grants, business rates and fees. The adult social care precept is the exception: councils raise it for adult social care. ## Sources for this page | Source | Publisher | Figures as of | Updated | Licence | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Council Tax levels set by local authorities in England](https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/council-tax-statistics) | Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government | the 2026–27 financial year | annual | [Open Government Licence v3.0](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/) | | [Local authority revenue expenditure and financing: Revenue Outturn multi-year data set](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6ab26ffffe72ed1e2b02ee74/Revenue_Outturn_time_series_data_v4.csv) | Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government | 28 September 2026 | annual | [Open Government Licence v3.0](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/) | Each source's figures are used under the licence shown. Our own words, analysis, charts and derived calculations are ours, under [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). ## Related pages - [Next in this section: Parking income in Bolton](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/parking/bolton/) - [Back to Bolton: your area](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/your-area/bolton/) - [How much is council tax and what does it pay for?](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/council-tax/) - [Who is my MP, and what does their office cost?](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/mps/) - [Where does my tax money actually go?](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/for-every-100-pounds-of-tax/) ## More from this publisher - [UK tax calculators](https://howlongisit.co.uk) Published by [Tekstak Ltd](https://tek-stak.co.uk). Our words, analysis, charts and derived calculations: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), credit [Tekstak Ltd](https://tek-stak.co.uk). The figures belong to the publishers listed under Sources and are used under their licences. Figures last updated 29 September 2026.