# Where your council tax goes in Buckinghamshire url: https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/council-tax/england/buckinghamshire/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 Buckinghamshire Last updated 29 September 2026. Figures refresh every night. [How each figure is worked out](/methodology/). A Band D council tax bill in **Buckinghamshire** is **£2,526.58** for 2026-27, split between Buckinghamshire £1,998.82, Buckinghamshire: adult social care precept, this year's increase £38.68, Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable £298.28, Buckinghamshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority £89.46, Parish and town councils (average for the area) £101.34. Shared out in proportion to what each body spends, the largest single line is adult social care at Buckinghamshire: **£736.75** of the bill. Council tax pays for 31% 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 - £2,526.58Band D bill, 2026-27 As of 6 April 2026 - £1,998.82Goes to Buckinghamshire itself (79%) As of 6 April 2026 - £736.75Largest line: adult social care As of 28 September 2026 - 30.7%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. 1998.82 38.68 298.28 89.46 101.34 Buckinghamshire 79%Buckinghamshire: adult social care precept, this year's increase 2%Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable 12%Buckinghamshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority 4%Parish and town councils (average for the area) 4% 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 30.7%** of the money Buckinghamshire had to spend in 2025-26. ********** - Council tax 30.7% £452.7m - Business rates 6.5% £95.9m - General government grant 0.1% £1.5m - Government grants for specific services 43.8% £645.8m - Fees, charges and other income 18.8% £277.4m It also put £64.9m into its reserves that year. 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: £2,526.58 - [Buckinghamshire](#d-council) £1,998.82 ** Your council · 79.1% of the bill - [Buckinghamshire: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) £38.68 ** Adult social care precept · 1.5% of the bill - [Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable](#d-police) £298.28 ** Police · 11.8% of the bill - [Buckinghamshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority](#d-fire) £89.46 ** Fire and rescue · 3.5% of the bill - Parish and town councils (average for the area) £101.34 ** Parish or town council · 4.0% 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) - Buckinghamshire ### Buckinghamshire £1,998.82 of your bill goes to Buckinghamshire. It is shared out below in proportion to how Buckinghamshire spent its money in 2025-26, its latest published return. - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) £736.75 ** 36.9% of this part · £239.5m in 2025-26 · £410 per resident; similar councils £491 · up 5.6% on 2024-25 - [Children's social care](#d-council~childrens-social-care) £451.60 ** 22.6% of this part · £146.8m in 2025-26 · £251 per resident; similar councils £267 · up 6.0% on 2024-25 - [Education](#d-council~education) £375.21 ** 18.8% of this part · £533.0m in 2025-26 · £912 per resident; similar councils £697 · up 9.8% on 2024-25 - [Roads and transport](#d-council~highways-transport) £124.56 ** 6.2% of this part · £40.5m in 2025-26 · £69 per resident; similar councils £50 · down 5.2% on 2024-25 - [Environment and regulation](#d-council~environment) £93.21 ** 4.7% of this part · £30.3m in 2025-26 · £52 per resident; similar councils £116 · down 11.4% on 2024-25 - [Running the council](#d-council~central) £85.42 ** 4.3% of this part · £27.8m in 2025-26 · £48 per resident; similar councils £44 · down 8.3% on 2024-25 - [Planning and development](#d-council~planning-development) £60.34 ** 3.0% of this part · £19.6m in 2025-26 · £34 per resident; similar councils £28 · down 4.4% on 2024-25 - [Housing (not council homes)](#d-council~housing) £52.51 ** 2.6% of this part · £17.1m in 2025-26 · £29 per resident; similar councils £38 · up 4.8% on 2024-25 Not council homes: [see the note](#d-council~housing). - [Parks, leisure, libraries and culture](#d-council~culture-leisure) £19.22 ** 1.0% of this part · £6.2m in 2025-26 · £11 per resident; similar councils £41 · down 26.6% on 2024-25 Before sharing out your bill, the part of education paid for by the Dedicated Schools Grant (£411.1m) and public health paid for by the public health grant (£26.8m) is taken off, because council tax does not pay for it. **Which councils count as similar** Medians are across the 10 unitary councils in England closest in population: Cornwall, Somerset, Durham, North Yorkshire, Wiltshire, Bristol, West Northamptonshire, Cheshire East, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, Dorset. Per-resident figures use ONS mid-year population estimates. - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Buckinghamshire](#d-council) - Adult social care ### Adult social care £736.75 of your bill goes to adult social care at Buckinghamshire. Here is how its £239.5m of net spending on it divides in the return. - [Physical support](#d-council~adult-social-care.physical) £280.72 ** 38.1% of this · £91.3m in 2025-26 · £156 per resident; similar councils £160 · up 7.4% on 2024-25 - [Learning disability support](#d-council~adult-social-care.learning-disability) £252.20 ** 34.2% of this · £82.0m in 2025-26 · £140 per resident; similar councils £157 · up 1.4% on 2024-25 - [Mental health support](#d-council~adult-social-care.mental-health) £64.60 ** 8.8% of this · £21.0m in 2025-26 · £36 per resident; similar councils £45 · down 3.0% on 2024-25 - Care assessment and safeguarding £60.01 ** 8.1% of this · £19.5m in 2025-26 · £33 per resident; similar councils £39 · up 15.7% on 2024-25 - [Support with memory and cognition](#d-council~adult-social-care.memory) £35.14 ** 4.8% of this · £11.4m in 2025-26 · £20 per resident; similar councils £30 · up 19.5% on 2024-25 - Commissioning, strategy and administration £32.34 ** 4.4% of this · £10.5m in 2025-26 · £18 per resident; similar councils £15 · up 13.0% on 2024-25 - Social support (carers, substance misuse, isolation, asylum) £5.82 ** 0.8% of this · £1.9m in 2025-26 · £3.24 per resident; similar councils £6.90 · down 17.6% on 2024-25 - [Sensory support](#d-council~adult-social-care.sensory) £3.77 ** 0.5% of this · £1.2m in 2025-26 · £2.10 per resident; similar councils £2.61 · up 20.9% on 2024-25 - Assistive equipment and technology £1.95 ** 0.3% of this · £633k in 2025-26 · £1.08 per resident; similar councils £2.82 - Information and early intervention £0.22 ** under 0.1% of this · £70k in 2025-26 · £0.12 per resident; similar councils £2.01 · down 88.6% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Buckinghamshire](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Physical support ### Physical support £280.72 of your bill goes to physical support at Buckinghamshire. Here is how its £91.3m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £203.78 ** 72.6% of this · £66.3m in 2025-26 · £113 per resident; similar councils £123 · up 7.3% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £76.94 ** 27.4% of this · £25.0m in 2025-26 · £43 per resident; similar councils £34 · up 7.8% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Buckinghamshire](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Learning disability support ### Learning disability support £252.20 of your bill goes to learning disability support at Buckinghamshire. Here is how its £82.0m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £238.71 ** 94.6% of this · £77.6m in 2025-26 · £133 per resident; similar councils £142 · up 1.4% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £13.50 ** 5.4% of this · £4.4m in 2025-26 · £7.51 per resident; similar councils £18 · up 2.2% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Buckinghamshire](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Mental health support ### Mental health support £64.60 of your bill goes to mental health support at Buckinghamshire. Here is how its £21.0m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £42.26 ** 65.4% of this · £13.7m in 2025-26 · £24 per resident; similar councils £26 · down 5.5% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £22.34 ** 34.6% of this · £7.3m in 2025-26 · £12 per resident; similar councils £16 · up 2.1% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Buckinghamshire](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Support with memory and cognition ### Support with memory and cognition £35.14 of your bill goes to support with memory and cognition at Buckinghamshire. Here is how its £11.4m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £29.19 ** 83.1% of this · £9.5m in 2025-26 · £16 per resident; similar councils £26 · up 24.0% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £5.95 ** 16.9% of this · £1.9m in 2025-26 · £3.31 per resident; similar councils £2.94 · up 1.4% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Buckinghamshire](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Sensory support ### Sensory support £3.77 of your bill goes to sensory support at Buckinghamshire. Here is how its £1.2m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £2.62 ** 69.4% of this · £851k in 2025-26 · £1.46 per resident; similar councils £1.29 · up 8.3% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £1.15 ** 30.6% of this · £375k in 2025-26 · £0.64 per resident; similar councils £0.88 · up 64.5% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Buckinghamshire](#d-council) - Children's social care ### Children's social care £451.60 of your bill goes to children's social care at Buckinghamshire. Here is how its £146.8m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Children looked after £268.44 ** 59.4% of this · £87.3m in 2025-26 · £149 per resident; similar councils £173 · up 4.9% on 2024-25 - Safeguarding and social work £107.83 ** 23.9% of this · £35.1m in 2025-26 · £60 per resident; similar councils £53 · up 8.4% on 2024-25 - Family support £65.54 ** 14.5% of this · £21.3m in 2025-26 · £36 per resident; similar councils £32 · up 6.7% on 2024-25 - Services for young people £6.03 ** 1.3% of this · £2.0m in 2025-26 · £3.36 per resident; similar councils £5.41 · up 1.8% on 2024-25 - Youth justice £3.66 ** 0.8% of this · £1.2m in 2025-26 · £2.03 per resident; similar councils £2.32 · up 12.6% on 2024-25 - Other children's and families' services £0.09 ** under 0.1% of this · £30k in 2025-26 · £0.05 per resident; similar councils £0.63 · down 34.8% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Buckinghamshire](#d-council) - Education ### Education £375.21 of your bill goes to education at Buckinghamshire. Here is how its £533.0m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Primary schools £141.28 ** 37.7% of this · £200.7m in 2025-26 · £344 per resident; similar councils £203 · up 1.5% on 2024-25 - Special schools and alternative provision £70.73 ** 18.8% of this · £100.5m in 2025-26 · £172 per resident; similar councils £142 · up 16.2% on 2024-25 - Early years and nursery £69.84 ** 18.6% of this · £99.2m in 2025-26 · £170 per resident; similar councils £143 · up 45.0% on 2024-25 - Other education £49.08 ** 13.1% of this · £69.7m in 2025-26 · £119 per resident; similar councils £89 · down 1.3% on 2024-25 - Secondary schools £34.89 ** 9.3% of this · £49.6m in 2025-26 · £85 per resident; similar councils £87 · down 2.6% on 2024-25 - Post-16 £9.41 ** 2.5% of this · £13.4m in 2025-26 · £23 per resident; similar councils £18 · up 18.9% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Buckinghamshire](#d-council) - Roads and transport ### Roads and transport £124.56 of your bill goes to roads and transport at Buckinghamshire. Here is how its £40.5m of net spending on it divides in the return. - [Road and bridge maintenance](#d-council~highways-transport.maintenance) £57.98 ** 46.6% of this · £20.2m in 2025-26 · £35 per resident; similar councils £20 · down 17.6% on 2024-25 - Support for bus, rail and other public transport £19.73 ** 15.8% of this · £6.9m in 2025-26 · £12 per resident; similar councils £16 · up 20.9% on 2024-25 - Concessionary bus fares £15.58 ** 12.5% of this · £5.4m in 2025-26 · £9.28 per resident; similar councils £8.69 · down 2.7% on 2024-25 - Transport planning and policy £14.35 ** 11.5% of this · £5.0m in 2025-26 · £8.55 per resident; similar councils £2.40 · up 211.0% on 2024-25 - Street lighting (including energy) £8.31 ** 6.7% of this · £2.9m in 2025-26 · £4.95 per resident; similar councils £7.31 · down 38.8% on 2024-25 - Winter service (gritting) £7.64 ** 6.1% of this · £2.7m in 2025-26 · £4.55 per resident; similar councils £3.78 · down 12.9% on 2024-25 - Traffic management and road safety £0.97 ** 0.8% of this · £338k in 2025-26 · £0.58 per resident; similar councils £1.63 · down 27.3% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Buckinghamshire](#d-council) - [Roads and transport](#d-council~highways-transport) - Road and bridge maintenance ### Road and bridge maintenance £57.98 of your bill goes to road and bridge maintenance at Buckinghamshire. Here is how its £20.2m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Environmental, safety and routine maintenance £37.72 ** 65.1% of this · £13.1m in 2025-26 · £22 per resident; similar councils £18 · up 2.9% on 2024-25 - Structural maintenance (resurfacing, bridges) £20.26 ** 34.9% of this · £7.1m in 2025-26 · £12 per resident; similar councils £6.75 · down 39.9% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Buckinghamshire](#d-council) - Environment and regulation ### Environment and regulation £93.21 of your bill goes to environment and regulation at Buckinghamshire. Here is how its £30.3m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Waste collection £58.80 ** 63.1% of this · £26.5m in 2025-26 · £45 per resident; similar councils £27 · up 10.0% on 2024-25 - Environmental health, food safety, pest control and licensing £12.18 ** 13.1% of this · £5.5m in 2025-26 · £9.40 per resident; similar councils £7.03 · up 12.5% on 2024-25 - Community safety and CCTV £8.00 ** 8.6% of this · £3.6m in 2025-26 · £6.17 per resident; similar councils £6.25 · down 6.7% on 2024-25 - Street cleaning £5.98 ** 6.4% of this · £2.7m in 2025-26 · £4.61 per resident; similar councils £11 · down 0.3% on 2024-25 - Flood defence, land drainage and coast protection £4.99 ** 5.3% of this · £2.2m in 2025-26 · £3.85 per resident; similar councils £1.83 · down 18.9% on 2024-25 - Trading standards £2.15 ** 2.3% of this · £971k in 2025-26 · £1.66 per resident; similar councils £2.11 · up 2.2% on 2024-25 - Public toilets £1.10 ** 1.2% of this · £497k in 2025-26 · £0.85 per resident; similar councils £0.24 · down 10.5% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Buckinghamshire](#d-council) - Running the council ### Running the council £85.42 of your bill goes to running the council at Buckinghamshire. Here is how its £27.8m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Corporate and democratic core £26.79 ** 31.4% of this · £8.8m in 2025-26 · £15 per resident; similar councils £13 · down 4.0% on 2024-25 - Local welfare assistance £18.14 ** 21.2% of this · £5.9m in 2025-26 · £10 per resident; similar councils £0.04 · down 12.8% on 2024-25 - Non-distributed costs (past pensions, unused assets) £14.72 ** 17.2% of this · £4.8m in 2025-26 · £8.24 per resident; similar councils £8.83 · down 4.5% on 2024-25 - Collecting council tax and business rates £11.84 ** 13.9% of this · £3.9m in 2025-26 · £6.63 per resident; similar councils £8.91 · up 14.4% on 2024-25 - Elections and electoral registration £6.80 ** 8.0% of this · £2.2m in 2025-26 · £3.81 per resident; similar councils £2.47 · down 42.4% on 2024-25 - Coroners' and other courts £4.49 ** 5.3% of this · £1.5m in 2025-26 · £2.52 per resident; similar councils £2.58 · down 0.7% on 2024-25 - Emergency planning £1.75 ** 2.0% of this · £573k in 2025-26 · £0.98 per resident; similar councils £0.98 · up 5.5% on 2024-25 - Registering births, deaths and marriages £0.90 ** 1.1% of this · £296k in 2025-26 · £0.51 per resident; similar councils £-0.48 · up 79.4% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Buckinghamshire](#d-council) - Planning and development ### Planning and development £60.34 of your bill goes to planning and development at Buckinghamshire. Here is how its £19.6m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Economic development and business support £23.95 ** 39.7% of this · £7.8m in 2025-26 · £13 per resident; similar councils £10 · up 30.3% on 2024-25 - Planning applications (development management) £14.16 ** 23.5% of this · £4.6m in 2025-26 · £7.88 per resident; similar councils £3.45 · down 43.2% on 2024-25 - Planning policy £10.75 ** 17.8% of this · £3.5m in 2025-26 · £5.98 per resident; similar councils £5.89 · up 38.8% on 2024-25 - Environmental initiatives £8.46 ** 14.0% of this · £2.7m in 2025-26 · £4.70 per resident; similar councils £0.36 · down 3.8% on 2024-25 - Building control £3.02 ** 5.0% of this · £982k in 2025-26 · £1.68 per resident; similar councils £0.54 · down 8.5% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Buckinghamshire](#d-council) - Housing (not council homes) ### Housing (not council homes) £52.51 of your bill goes to housing (not council homes) at Buckinghamshire. Here is how its £17.1m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Homelessness and temporary accommodation £29.30 ** 55.8% of this · £9.7m in 2025-26 · £17 per resident; similar councils £18 · down 6.8% on 2024-25 - Housing strategy, advice and enabling £12.04 ** 22.9% of this · £4.0m in 2025-26 · £6.80 per resident; similar councils £4.71 · up 8.6% on 2024-25 - Housing benefit administration and discretionary payments £8.77 ** 16.7% of this · £2.9m in 2025-26 · £4.96 per resident; similar councils £4.97 · up 83.1% on 2024-25 - Supporting People and welfare services £2.40 ** 4.6% of this · £793k in 2025-26 · £1.36 per resident; similar councils £6.70 · down 17.0% 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. Buckinghamshire 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) - [Buckinghamshire](#d-council) - Parks, leisure, libraries and culture ### Parks, leisure, libraries and culture £19.22 of your bill goes to parks, leisure, libraries and culture at Buckinghamshire. Here is how its £6.2m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Libraries £13.03 ** 67.8% of this · £4.5m in 2025-26 · £7.67 per resident; similar councils £11 · down 6.6% on 2024-25 - Museums, arts, heritage and archives £4.21 ** 21.9% of this · £1.4m in 2025-26 · £2.48 per resident; similar councils £4.94 · up 5.3% on 2024-25 - Parks and open spaces (including play areas) £1.98 ** 10.3% of this · £681k in 2025-26 · £1.17 per resident; similar councils £18 · down 69.3% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - Buckinghamshire: adult social care precept, this year's increase ### Buckinghamshire: adult social care precept, this year's increase £38.68 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 Buckinghamshire's adult social care spending of £239.5m 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) £14.74 ** 38.1% of this precept · £91.3m in 2025-26 · £156 per resident; similar councils £160 · up 7.4% on 2024-25 - [Learning disability support](#d-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.learning-disability) £13.24 ** 34.2% of this precept · £82.0m in 2025-26 · £140 per resident; similar councils £157 · up 1.4% on 2024-25 - [Mental health support](#d-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.mental-health) £3.39 ** 8.8% of this precept · £21.0m in 2025-26 · £36 per resident; similar councils £45 · down 3.0% on 2024-25 - Care assessment and safeguarding £3.15 ** 8.1% of this precept · £19.5m in 2025-26 · £33 per resident; similar councils £39 · up 15.7% on 2024-25 - [Support with memory and cognition](#d-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.memory) £1.84 ** 4.8% of this precept · £11.4m in 2025-26 · £20 per resident; similar councils £30 · up 19.5% on 2024-25 - Commissioning, strategy and administration £1.70 ** 4.4% of this precept · £10.5m in 2025-26 · £18 per resident; similar councils £15 · up 13.0% on 2024-25 - Social support (carers, substance misuse, isolation, asylum) £0.31 ** 0.8% of this precept · £1.9m in 2025-26 · £3.24 per resident; similar councils £6.90 · down 17.6% on 2024-25 - [Sensory support](#d-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.sensory) £0.20 ** 0.5% of this precept · £1.2m in 2025-26 · £2.10 per resident; similar councils £2.61 · up 20.9% on 2024-25 - Assistive equipment and technology £0.10 ** 0.3% of this precept · £633k in 2025-26 · £1.08 per resident; similar councils £2.82 - Information and early intervention £0.01 ** under 0.1% of this precept · £70k in 2025-26 · £0.12 per resident; similar councils £2.01 · down 88.6% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Buckinghamshire: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Physical support ### Physical support £14.74 of your bill goes to physical support at Buckinghamshire. Here is how its £91.3m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £10.70 ** 72.6% of this · £66.3m in 2025-26 · £113 per resident; similar councils £123 · up 7.3% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £4.04 ** 27.4% of this · £25.0m in 2025-26 · £43 per resident; similar councils £34 · up 7.8% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Buckinghamshire: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Learning disability support ### Learning disability support £13.24 of your bill goes to learning disability support at Buckinghamshire. Here is how its £82.0m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £12.53 ** 94.6% of this · £77.6m in 2025-26 · £133 per resident; similar councils £142 · up 1.4% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £0.71 ** 5.4% of this · £4.4m in 2025-26 · £7.51 per resident; similar councils £18 · up 2.2% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Buckinghamshire: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Mental health support ### Mental health support £3.39 of your bill goes to mental health support at Buckinghamshire. Here is how its £21.0m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £2.22 ** 65.4% of this · £13.7m in 2025-26 · £24 per resident; similar councils £26 · down 5.5% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £1.17 ** 34.6% of this · £7.3m in 2025-26 · £12 per resident; similar councils £16 · up 2.1% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Buckinghamshire: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Support with memory and cognition ### Support with memory and cognition £1.84 of your bill goes to support with memory and cognition at Buckinghamshire. Here is how its £11.4m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £1.53 ** 83.1% of this · £9.5m in 2025-26 · £16 per resident; similar councils £26 · up 24.0% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £0.31 ** 16.9% of this · £1.9m in 2025-26 · £3.31 per resident; similar councils £2.94 · up 1.4% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Buckinghamshire: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Sensory support ### Sensory support £0.20 of your bill goes to sensory support at Buckinghamshire. Here is how its £1.2m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £0.14 ** 69.4% of this · £851k in 2025-26 · £1.46 per resident; similar councils £1.29 · up 8.3% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £0.06 ** 30.6% of this · £375k in 2025-26 · £0.64 per resident; similar councils £0.88 · up 64.5% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable ### Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable £298.28 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 Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable's adult social care spending of £715.9m 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) - Buckinghamshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority ### Buckinghamshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority £89.46 of your bill goes to Buckinghamshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority. It is shared out below in proportion to how Buckinghamshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority spent its money in 2025-26, its latest published return. - [Fire and rescue](#d-fire~fire) £84.02 ** 93.9% of this part · £37.8m in 2025-26 · £42 per resident; similar councils £50 · up 42.2% on 2024-25 - [Running the council](#d-fire~central) £5.44 ** 6.1% of this part · £2.4m in 2025-26 · £2.74 per resident; similar councils £1.56 · down 77.8% on 2024-25 **Which councils count as similar** Medians are across the 10 fire and rescue authorities closest in population: Mid and West Wales Fire Authority, North Yorkshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Cambridgeshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, East Sussex Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Humberside Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Fire and Rescue Authority, Hereford and Worcester Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Berkshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Bedfordshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Derbyshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority. Per-resident figures use ONS mid-year population estimates. - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Buckinghamshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority](#d-fire) - Fire and rescue ### Fire and rescue £84.02 of your bill goes to fire and rescue at Buckinghamshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority. Here is how its £37.8m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Firefighting and rescue £78.53 ** 93.5% of this · £35.3m in 2025-26 · £40 per resident; similar councils £39 · up 42.3% on 2024-25 - Community fire safety £5.49 ** 6.5% of this · £2.5m in 2025-26 · £2.77 per resident; similar councils £4.66 · up 39.7% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Buckinghamshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority](#d-fire) - Running the council ### Running the council £5.44 of your bill goes to running the council at Buckinghamshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority. Here is how its £2.4m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Corporate and democratic core £4.86 ** 89.4% of this · £2.2m in 2025-26 · £2.45 per resident; similar councils £1.56 · up 47.8% on 2024-25 - Non-distributed costs (past pensions, unused assets) £0.58 ** 10.6% of this · £259k in 2025-26 · £0.29 per resident; similar councils £0.00 · up 2.0% on 2024-25 ## Parks, street cleaning and roads here What Buckinghamshire 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 | £681k | £1.17 | £18 | — | down 69.3% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£1.17Similar councils, per resident£18Per mile of road—Changedown 69.3% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Street cleaningDetails | £2.7m | £4.61 | £11 | £1,308 (similar: £1,957) | down 0.3% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£4.61Similar councils, per resident£11Per mile of road£1,308 (similar: £1,957)Changedown 0.3% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Road and bridge maintenanceDetails | £20.2m | £35 | £20 | £9,805 (similar: £5,042) | down 17.6% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£35Similar councils, per resident£20Per mile of road£9,805 (similar: £5,042)Changedown 17.6% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Environmental, safety and routine maintenanceDetails | £13.1m | £22 | £18 | £6,379 (similar: £3,254) | up 2.9% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£22Similar councils, per resident£18Per mile of road£6,379 (similar: £3,254)Changeup 2.9% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Structural maintenance (resurfacing, bridges)Details | £7.1m | £12 | £6.75 | £3,426 (similar: £1,206) | down 39.9% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£12Similar councils, per resident£6.75Per mile of road£3,426 (similar: £1,206)Changedown 39.9% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Winter service (gritting)Details | £2.7m | £4.55 | £3.78 | £1,291 (similar: £741) | down 12.9% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£4.55Similar councils, per resident£3.78Per mile of road£1,291 (similar: £741)Changedown 12.9% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Street lighting (including energy)Details | £2.9m | £4.95 | £7.31 | £1,406 (similar: £1,393) | down 38.8% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£4.95Similar councils, per resident£7.31Per mile of road£1,406 (similar: £1,393)Changedown 38.8% 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 | £912 | £712 | | Median£712 | | | | Adult social careDetails | £410 | £483 | | Median£483 | | | | Children's social careDetails | £251 | £309 | | Median£309 | | | | Roads and transportDetails | £69 | £49 | | Median£49 | | | | Environment and regulationDetails | £52 | £111 | | Median£111 | | | | Running the councilDetails | £48 | £52 | | Median£52 | | | | Public healthDetails | £46 | £65 | | Median£65 | | | | Planning and developmentDetails | £34 | £21 | | Median£21 | | | | Housing (not council homes)Details | £29 | £34 | | Median£34 | | | | Parks, leisure, libraries and cultureDetails | £11 | £38 | | Median£38 | | | - Buckinghamshire spent **40.2%** of its gross service spending on its own staff in 2025-26 (median for unitary councils in England: 31.1%); 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 Buckinghamshire](/council-tax/england/buckinghamshire/) and [everything else about Buckinghamshire](/your-area/buckinghamshire/). ## Common questions What does council tax pay for in Buckinghamshire? A Band D bill of £2,526.58 is split between Buckinghamshire, Buckinghamshire: adult social care precept, this year's increase, Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable, Buckinghamshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Parish and town councils (average for the area). In proportion to spending, the largest line is adult social care, £736.75.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 Buckinghamshire UA](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/parking/buckinghamshire-ua/) - [Back to Buckinghamshire: your area](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/your-area/buckinghamshire/) - [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.