# Where your council tax goes in Exeter url: https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/council-tax/england/exeter/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 Exeter Last updated 29 September 2026. Figures refresh every night. [How each figure is worked out](/methodology/). A Band D council tax bill in **Exeter** is **£2,495.36** for 2026-27, split between Exeter £191.31, Devon County Council £1,855.17, Devon County Council: adult social care precept, this year's increase £36.00, Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable £303.20, Devon and Somerset Combined Fire and Rescue Authority £109.68. Shared out in proportion to what each body spends, the largest single line is adult social care at Devon County Council: **£797.96** of the bill. Council tax pays for 7% 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 - £2,495.36Band D bill, 2026-27 As of 6 April 2026 - £191.31Goes to Exeter itself (8%) As of 6 April 2026 - £797.96Largest line: adult social care As of 28 September 2026 - 7.1%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. 191.31 1855.17 36.00 303.20 109.68 Exeter 8%Devon County Council 74%Devon County Council: adult social care precept, this year's increase 1%Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable 12%Devon and Somerset Combined Fire and Rescue Authority 4% ## 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 7.1%** of the money Exeter had to spend in 2025-26. ************ - Council tax 7.1% £7.4m - Business rates 8.1% £8.5m - General government grant 0.6% £649k - Government grants for specific services 28.7% £30.0m - Fees, charges and other income 52.0% £54.4m - Taken from reserves 3.5% £3.6m **Council tax pays for 33.1%** of the money Devon County Council had to spend in 2025-26. ********** - Council tax 33.1% £572.5m - Business rates 8.3% £143.5m - General government grant 0.1% £2.0m - Government grants for specific services 37.3% £644.0m - Fees, charges and other income 21.1% £364.8m It also put £21.7m 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: £2,495.36 - [Exeter](#d-council) £191.31 ** Your council · 7.7% of the bill - [Devon County Council](#d-county) £1,855.17 ** County council · 74.3% of the bill - [Devon County Council: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-county-adult-social-care) £36.00 ** County adult social care precept · 1.4% of the bill - [Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable](#d-police) £303.20 ** Police · 12.2% of the bill - [Devon and Somerset Combined Fire and Rescue Authority](#d-fire) £109.68 ** Fire and rescue · 4.4% of the bill - [Your bill](#d-bill) - Exeter ### Exeter £191.31 of your bill goes to Exeter. It is shared out below in proportion to how Exeter spent its money in 2025-26, its latest published return. - [Environment and regulation](#d-council~environment) £61.31 ** 32.0% of this part · £9.6m in 2025-26 · £69 per resident; similar councils £49 · up 21.0% on 2024-25 - [Parks, leisure, libraries and culture](#d-council~culture-leisure) £49.51 ** 25.9% of this part · £7.7m in 2025-26 · £56 per resident; similar councils £21 · down 12.1% on 2024-25 - [Housing (not council homes)](#d-council~housing) £45.78 ** 23.9% of this part · £7.1m in 2025-26 · £52 per resident; similar councils £22 · down 5.3% on 2024-25 Not council homes: [see the note](#d-council~housing). - [Running the council](#d-council~central) £34.70 ** 18.1% of this part · £5.4m in 2025-26 · £39 per resident; similar councils £35 · up 1.4% on 2024-25 Roads and transport brought in £6.3m more than it cost; Planning and development brought in £707k more than it cost in 2025-26, so they take no share of your bill. **Which councils count as similar** Medians are across the 10 district councils in England closest in population: Tonbridge and Malling, Epping Forest, North Hertfordshire, Gloucester, Waverley, Teignbridge, Winchester, Wychavon, Ipswich, Broadland. Per-resident figures use ONS mid-year population estimates. - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Exeter](#d-council) - Environment and regulation ### Environment and regulation £61.31 of your bill goes to environment and regulation at Exeter. Here is how its £9.6m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Waste collection £23.98 ** 39.1% of this · £3.7m in 2025-26 · £27 per resident; similar councils £18 · up 22.4% on 2024-25 Paid most (our matching of £500 records): Comensura £206k; Allstar Business Solutions £198k. [Search](/councils/spending-over-500/exeter/?service=environment.waste-collection#search) - Street cleaning £12.30 ** 20.1% of this · £1.9m in 2025-26 · £14 per resident; similar councils £12 · up 0.6% on 2024-25 Paid most (our matching of £500 records): Comensura £95k; Allstar Business Solutions £53k. [Search](/councils/spending-over-500/exeter/?service=environment.street-cleaning#search) - Recycling and waste minimisation £10.78 ** 17.6% of this · £1.7m in 2025-26 · £12 per resident; similar councils £4.43 · up 53.5% on 2024-25 - Community safety and CCTV £5.25 ** 8.6% of this · £819k in 2025-26 · £5.94 per resident; similar councils £2.18 · up 32.1% on 2024-25 - Environmental health, food safety, pest control and licensing £5.17 ** 8.4% of this · £807k in 2025-26 · £5.85 per resident; similar councils £9.21 · down 14.7% on 2024-25 - Public toilets £1.62 ** 2.6% of this · £252k in 2025-26 · £1.83 per resident; similar councils £0.95 · up 10.5% on 2024-25 - Cemeteries and crematoria £1.15 ** 1.9% of this · £180k in 2025-26 · £1.31 per resident; similar councils £0.07 · up 16.9% on 2024-25 - Trade waste £0.82 ** 1.3% of this · £128k in 2025-26 · £0.93 per resident; similar councils £0.00 - Flood defence, land drainage and coast protection £0.24 ** 0.4% of this · £37k in 2025-26 · £0.27 per resident; similar councils £1.26 · no change on 2024-25 #### Named suppliers In Exeter's own records of payments over £500 for 2025-08 to 2026-07, payments our keyword matching links to environment and regulation came to £1.7m across 440 payments. Those records leave out salaries, so they are not the whole cost. - Comensura: £342k (154 payments) - Allstar Business Solutions: £253k (46 payments) - Devon County Council: £252k (3 payments) - Peter Ridley Waste Systems: £113k (7 payments) - Ultim8 Projects Ltd: £78k (2 payments) [Search these payments](/councils/spending-over-500/exeter/?service=environment#search) - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Exeter](#d-council) - Parks, leisure, libraries and culture ### Parks, leisure, libraries and culture £49.51 of your bill goes to parks, leisure, libraries and culture at Exeter. Here is how its £7.7m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Museums, arts, heritage and archives £19.56 ** 39.5% of this · £3.1m in 2025-26 · £22 per resident; similar councils £3.29 · up 0.6% on 2024-25 - Parks and open spaces (including play areas) £16.72 ** 33.8% of this · £2.6m in 2025-26 · £19 per resident; similar councils £12 · down 2.2% on 2024-25 Paid most (our matching of £500 records): Comensura £95k; Aba Groundcare (Sw) Ltd £51k. [Search](/councils/spending-over-500/exeter/?service=culture-leisure.parks#search) - Sport and leisure £12.60 ** 25.5% of this · £2.0m in 2025-26 · £14 per resident; similar councils £3.00 · down 33.6% on 2024-25 Paid most (our matching of £500 records): Kier Construction Ltd £343k; Corona Energy £166k. [Search](/councils/spending-over-500/exeter/?service=culture-leisure.sport#search) - Tourism £0.63 ** 1.3% of this · £98k in 2025-26 · £0.71 per resident; similar councils £0.00 · down 23.4% on 2024-25 #### Named suppliers In Exeter's own records of payments over £500 for 2025-08 to 2026-07, payments our keyword matching links to parks, leisure, libraries and culture came to £2.3m across 864 payments. Those records leave out salaries, so they are not the whole cost. - Kier Construction Ltd: £343k (4 payments) - Corona Energy: £166k (26 payments) - University Of Plymouth Enterprise Ltd: £151k (2 payments) - Mercury Construction (South West) Ltd: £144k (9 payments) - Source For Business T/A Sw Water Business: £96k (30 payments) [Search these payments](/councils/spending-over-500/exeter/?service=culture-leisure#search) - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Exeter](#d-council) - Housing (not council homes) ### Housing (not council homes) £45.78 of your bill goes to housing (not council homes) at Exeter. Here is how its £7.1m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Homelessness and temporary accommodation £31.98 ** 69.9% of this · £5.0m in 2025-26 · £36 per resident; similar councils £11 · up 1.0% on 2024-25 - Housing benefit administration and discretionary payments £9.81 ** 21.4% of this · £1.5m in 2025-26 · £11 per resident; similar councils £4.81 · down 9.3% on 2024-25 - Housing strategy, advice and enabling £2.25 ** 4.9% of this · £351k in 2025-26 · £2.55 per resident; similar councils £2.47 · down 32.6% on 2024-25 - Private sector housing renewal £1.74 ** 3.8% of this · £272k in 2025-26 · £1.97 per resident; similar councils £0.54 · down 31.3% on 2024-25 #### Named suppliers In Exeter's own records of payments over £500 for 2025-08 to 2026-07, payments our keyword matching links to housing (not council homes) came to £511k across 106 payments. Those records leave out salaries, so they are not the whole cost. - Bournemouth Churches Housing Assn (Bcha): £174k (3 payments) - Travelodge: £137k (12 payments) - Bloom Procurement Services: £52k (11 payments) - Comensura: £20k (14 payments) - Turntable Furniture Project: £16k (2 payments) [Search these payments](/councils/spending-over-500/exeter/?service=housing#search) **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. Exeter's Housing Revenue Account took in £27.0m and spent £24.2m in 2025-26. [What council tax does and doesn't pay for](/what-council-tax-pays-for/#ring-fence). - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Exeter](#d-council) - Running the council ### Running the council £34.70 of your bill goes to running the council at Exeter. Here is how its £5.4m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Corporate and democratic core £9.67 ** 27.9% of this · £1.5m in 2025-26 · £11 per resident; similar councils £20 · up 1.3% on 2024-25 - Collecting council tax and business rates £9.62 ** 27.7% of this · £1.5m in 2025-26 · £11 per resident; similar councils £7.63 · up 25.4% on 2024-25 - Non-distributed costs (past pensions, unused assets) £9.35 ** 27.0% of this · £1.5m in 2025-26 · £11 per resident; similar councils £3.96 · down 35.5% on 2024-25 - Elections and electoral registration £4.14 ** 11.9% of this · £646k in 2025-26 · £4.68 per resident; similar councils £2.59 · up 78.0% on 2024-25 - Other central services £1.91 ** 5.5% of this · £298k in 2025-26 · £2.16 per resident; similar councils £1.31 · up 1092.0% on 2024-25 #### Named suppliers In Exeter's own records of payments over £500 for 2025-08 to 2026-07, payments our keyword matching links to running the council came to £3.3m across 939 payments. Those records leave out salaries, so they are not the whole cost. - Dolphin Lifts South West: £286k (56 payments) - Grant Thornton: £272k (8 payments) - Comensura: £235k (133 payments) - Zurich Municipal: £153k (2 payments) - Cgy (Miserve) Ltd: £126k (25 payments) [Search these payments](/councils/spending-over-500/exeter/?service=central#search) - [Your bill](#d-bill) - Devon County Council ### Devon County Council £1,855.17 of your bill goes to Devon County Council. It is shared out below in proportion to how Devon County Council spent its money in 2025-26, its latest published return. - [Adult social care](#d-county~adult-social-care) £797.96 ** 43.0% of this part · £414.3m in 2025-26 · £490 per resident; similar councils £415 · up 5.6% on 2024-25 - [Children's social care](#d-county~childrens-social-care) £429.86 ** 23.2% of this part · £223.2m in 2025-26 · £264 per resident; similar councils £235 · up 6.3% on 2024-25 - [Education](#d-county~education) £330.59 ** 17.8% of this part · £539.7m in 2025-26 · £638 per resident; similar councils £665 · up 9.3% on 2024-25 - [Roads and transport](#d-county~highways-transport) £125.89 ** 6.8% of this part · £65.4m in 2025-26 · £77 per resident; similar councils £65 · up 5.5% on 2024-25 - [Environment and regulation](#d-county~environment) £97.51 ** 5.3% of this part · £50.6m in 2025-26 · £60 per resident; similar councils £56 · up 13.2% on 2024-25 - [Running the council](#d-county~central) £28.80 ** 1.6% of this part · £15.0m in 2025-26 · £18 per resident; similar councils £23 · up 12.8% on 2024-25 - [Parks, leisure, libraries and culture](#d-county~culture-leisure) £23.17 ** 1.2% of this part · £12.0m in 2025-26 · £14 per resident; similar councils £15 · up 16.1% on 2024-25 - [Planning and development](#d-county~planning-development) £13.92 ** 0.8% of this part · £7.2m in 2025-26 · £8.55 per resident; similar councils £4.37 · down 43.8% on 2024-25 - [Public health](#d-county~public-health) £5.48 ** 0.3% of this part · £36.2m in 2025-26 · £43 per resident; similar councils £52 · down 3.9% on 2024-25 - [Housing (not council homes)](#d-county~housing) £2.01 ** 0.1% of this part · £1.0m in 2025-26 · £1.23 per resident; similar councils £3.26 · down 37.7% on 2024-25 Not council homes: [see the note](#d-county~housing). Before sharing out your bill, the part of education paid for by the Dedicated Schools Grant (£368.1m) and public health paid for by the public health grant (£33.4m) is taken off, because council tax does not pay for it. **Which councils count as similar** Medians are across the 10 county councils closest in population: Nottinghamshire County Council, Derbyshire County Council, Lincolnshire County Council, Suffolk County Council, Staffordshire County Council, West Sussex County Council, Oxfordshire County Council, Norfolk County Council, Leicestershire County Council, Cambridgeshire County Council. Per-resident figures use ONS mid-year population estimates. - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Devon County Council](#d-county) - Adult social care ### Adult social care £797.96 of your bill goes to adult social care at Devon County Council. Here is how its £414.3m of net spending on it divides in the return. - [Learning disability support](#d-county~adult-social-care.learning-disability) £244.87 ** 30.7% of this · £127.1m in 2025-26 · £150 per resident; similar councils £141 · up 9.5% on 2024-25 - [Physical support](#d-county~adult-social-care.physical) £220.61 ** 27.6% of this · £114.5m in 2025-26 · £135 per resident; similar councils £150 · up 6.3% on 2024-25 - [Support with memory and cognition](#d-county~adult-social-care.memory) £108.10 ** 13.5% of this · £56.1m in 2025-26 · £66 per resident; similar councils £29 · up 12.2% on 2024-25 - Care assessment and safeguarding £69.98 ** 8.8% of this · £36.3m in 2025-26 · £43 per resident; similar councils £40 · down 3.7% on 2024-25 - [Mental health support](#d-county~adult-social-care.mental-health) £61.45 ** 7.7% of this · £31.9m in 2025-26 · £38 per resident; similar councils £32 · down 4.8% on 2024-25 - Commissioning, strategy and administration £59.63 ** 7.5% of this · £31.0m in 2025-26 · £37 per resident; similar councils £24 · up 5.0% on 2024-25 - Social support (carers, substance misuse, isolation, asylum) £22.21 ** 2.8% of this · £11.5m in 2025-26 · £14 per resident; similar councils £9.67 · down 4.7% on 2024-25 - [Sensory support](#d-county~adult-social-care.sensory) £6.86 ** 0.9% of this · £3.6m in 2025-26 · £4.21 per resident; similar councils £2.37 · up 9.4% on 2024-25 - Information and early intervention £3.43 ** 0.4% of this · £1.8m in 2025-26 · £2.11 per resident; similar councils £3.23 · down 7.7% on 2024-25 - Assistive equipment and technology £0.82 ** 0.1% of this · £425k in 2025-26 · £0.50 per resident; similar councils £5.13 · no change on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Devon County Council](#d-county) - [Adult social care](#d-county~adult-social-care) - Learning disability support ### Learning disability support £244.87 of your bill goes to learning disability support at Devon County Council. Here is how its £127.1m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £214.43 ** 87.6% of this · £111.3m in 2025-26 · £132 per resident; similar councils £121 · up 7.9% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £30.45 ** 12.4% of this · £15.8m in 2025-26 · £19 per resident; similar councils £15 · up 21.9% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Devon County Council](#d-county) - [Adult social care](#d-county~adult-social-care) - Physical support ### Physical support £220.61 of your bill goes to physical support at Devon County Council. Here is how its £114.5m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £162.41 ** 73.6% of this · £84.3m in 2025-26 · £100 per resident; similar councils £117 · down 1.6% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £58.20 ** 26.4% of this · £30.2m in 2025-26 · £36 per resident; similar councils £29 · up 37.1% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Devon County Council](#d-county) - [Adult social care](#d-county~adult-social-care) - Support with memory and cognition ### Support with memory and cognition £108.10 of your bill goes to support with memory and cognition at Devon County Council. Here is how its £56.1m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £101.14 ** 93.6% of this · £52.5m in 2025-26 · £62 per resident; similar councils £28 · up 12.5% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £6.96 ** 6.4% of this · £3.6m in 2025-26 · £4.28 per resident; similar councils £2.45 · up 8.9% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Devon County Council](#d-county) - [Adult social care](#d-county~adult-social-care) - Mental health support ### Mental health support £61.45 of your bill goes to mental health support at Devon County Council. Here is how its £31.9m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £39.49 ** 64.3% of this · £20.5m in 2025-26 · £24 per resident; similar councils £19 · up 0.3% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £21.96 ** 35.7% of this · £11.4m in 2025-26 · £13 per resident; similar councils £13 · down 12.7% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Devon County Council](#d-county) - [Adult social care](#d-county~adult-social-care) - Sensory support ### Sensory support £6.86 of your bill goes to sensory support at Devon County Council. Here is how its £3.6m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £3.84 ** 56.1% of this · £2.0m in 2025-26 · £2.36 per resident; similar councils £0.83 · up 14.6% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £3.01 ** 43.9% of this · £1.6m in 2025-26 · £1.85 per resident; similar councils £1.51 · up 3.4% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Devon County Council](#d-county) - Children's social care ### Children's social care £429.86 of your bill goes to children's social care at Devon County Council. Here is how its £223.2m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Children looked after £251.69 ** 58.6% of this · £130.7m in 2025-26 · £155 per resident; similar councils £145 · up 14.1% on 2024-25 - Safeguarding and social work £90.17 ** 21.0% of this · £46.8m in 2025-26 · £55 per resident; similar councils £37 · down 14.1% on 2024-25 - Family support £64.60 ** 15.0% of this · £33.5m in 2025-26 · £40 per resident; similar councils £28 · up 11.6% on 2024-25 - Services for young people £11.79 ** 2.7% of this · £6.1m in 2025-26 · £7.24 per resident; similar councils £3.11 · up 150.1% on 2024-25 - Other children's and families' services £5.00 ** 1.2% of this · £2.6m in 2025-26 · £3.07 per resident; similar councils £1.82 · up 1.5% on 2024-25 - Children's centres and early years £4.99 ** 1.2% of this · £2.6m in 2025-26 · £3.06 per resident; similar councils £4.65 · down 43.3% on 2024-25 - Youth justice £1.62 ** 0.4% of this · £841k in 2025-26 · £0.99 per resident; similar councils £3.15 · down 35.1% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Devon County Council](#d-county) - Education ### Education £330.59 of your bill goes to education at Devon County Council. Here is how its £539.7m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Primary schools £114.14 ** 34.5% of this · £186.3m in 2025-26 · £220 per resident; similar councils £235 · down 0.6% on 2024-25 - Special schools and alternative provision £64.16 ** 19.4% of this · £104.8m in 2025-26 · £124 per resident; similar councils £144 · up 8.5% on 2024-25 - Early years and nursery £59.77 ** 18.1% of this · £97.6m in 2025-26 · £115 per resident; similar councils £144 · up 45.5% on 2024-25 - Other education £49.31 ** 14.9% of this · £80.5m in 2025-26 · £95 per resident; similar councils £88 · up 14.0% on 2024-25 - Secondary schools £27.90 ** 8.4% of this · £45.6m in 2025-26 · £54 per resident; similar councils £48 · up 3.2% on 2024-25 - Post-16 £15.31 ** 4.6% of this · £25.0m in 2025-26 · £30 per resident; similar councils £14 · down 11.4% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Devon County Council](#d-county) - Roads and transport ### Roads and transport £125.89 of your bill goes to roads and transport at Devon County Council. Here is how its £65.4m of net spending on it divides in the return. - [Road and bridge maintenance](#d-county~highways-transport.maintenance) £52.91 ** 42.0% of this · £29.2m in 2025-26 · £35 per resident; similar councils £21 · down 3.9% on 2024-25 - Support for bus, rail and other public transport £38.01 ** 30.2% of this · £21.0m in 2025-26 · £25 per resident; similar councils £13 · up 15.1% on 2024-25 - Concessionary bus fares £15.16 ** 12.0% of this · £8.4m in 2025-26 · £9.90 per resident; similar councils £11 · up 8.5% on 2024-25 - Street lighting (including energy) £7.77 ** 6.2% of this · £4.3m in 2025-26 · £5.08 per resident; similar councils £7.64 · down 3.0% on 2024-25 - Winter service (gritting) £6.80 ** 5.4% of this · £3.8m in 2025-26 · £4.44 per resident; similar councils £4.08 · up 18.5% on 2024-25 - Traffic management and road safety £2.70 ** 2.1% of this · £1.5m in 2025-26 · £1.77 per resident; similar councils £1.26 · up 320.8% on 2024-25 - Transport planning and policy £2.53 ** 2.0% of this · £1.4m in 2025-26 · £1.66 per resident; similar councils £1.59 · down 9.0% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Devon County Council](#d-county) - [Roads and transport](#d-county~highways-transport) - Road and bridge maintenance ### Road and bridge maintenance £52.91 of your bill goes to road and bridge maintenance at Devon County Council. Here is how its £29.2m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Environmental, safety and routine maintenance £49.90 ** 94.3% of this · £27.6m in 2025-26 · £33 per resident; similar councils £17 · down 3.2% on 2024-25 - Structural maintenance (resurfacing, bridges) £3.01 ** 5.7% of this · £1.7m in 2025-26 · £1.97 per resident; similar councils £3.54 · down 14.4% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Devon County Council](#d-county) - Environment and regulation ### Environment and regulation £97.51 of your bill goes to environment and regulation at Devon County Council. Here is how its £50.6m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Waste disposal £51.66 ** 53.0% of this · £27.7m in 2025-26 · £33 per resident; similar councils £42 · up 12.2% on 2024-25 - Recycling and waste minimisation £36.08 ** 37.0% of this · £19.4m in 2025-26 · £23 per resident; similar councils £11 · up 3.3% on 2024-25 - Trading standards £4.57 ** 4.7% of this · £2.5m in 2025-26 · £2.90 per resident; similar councils £2.37 · up 3.6% on 2024-25 - Community safety and CCTV £3.54 ** 3.6% of this · £1.9m in 2025-26 · £2.24 per resident; similar councils £0.01 · up 189700.0% on 2024-25 - Flood defence, land drainage and coast protection £1.65 ** 1.7% of this · £885k in 2025-26 · £1.05 per resident; similar councils £1.48 · up 11.2% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Devon County Council](#d-county) - Running the council ### Running the council £28.80 of your bill goes to running the council at Devon County Council. Here is how its £15.0m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Corporate and democratic core £10.38 ** 36.0% of this · £5.9m in 2025-26 · £6.94 per resident; similar councils £6.08 · up 2.9% on 2024-25 - Non-distributed costs (past pensions, unused assets) £9.45 ** 32.8% of this · £5.3m in 2025-26 · £6.32 per resident; similar councils £1.09 · down 17.4% on 2024-25 - Elections and electoral registration £3.94 ** 13.7% of this · £2.2m in 2025-26 · £2.63 per resident; similar councils £1.05 - Coroners' and other courts £3.51 ** 12.2% of this · £2.0m in 2025-26 · £2.35 per resident; similar councils £2.70 · up 9.2% on 2024-25 - Other central services £0.79 ** 2.8% of this · £448k in 2025-26 · £0.53 per resident; similar councils £0.00 · up 213.3% on 2024-25 - Emergency planning £0.67 ** 2.3% of this · £380k in 2025-26 · £0.45 per resident; similar councils £0.46 · up 39.2% on 2024-25 - Collecting council tax and business rates £0.06 ** 0.2% of this · £35k in 2025-26 · £0.04 per resident; similar councils £0.00 · down 74.1% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Devon County Council](#d-county) - Parks, leisure, libraries and culture ### Parks, leisure, libraries and culture £23.17 of your bill goes to parks, leisure, libraries and culture at Devon County Council. Here is how its £12.0m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Libraries £13.84 ** 59.7% of this · £7.2m in 2025-26 · £8.50 per resident; similar councils £9.58 · up 6.5% on 2024-25 - Parks and open spaces (including play areas) £5.52 ** 23.8% of this · £2.9m in 2025-26 · £3.39 per resident; similar councils £2.25 · up 79.7% on 2024-25 - Sport and leisure £2.09 ** 9.0% of this · £1.1m in 2025-26 · £1.29 per resident; similar councils £0.00 · up 3.0% on 2024-25 - Museums, arts, heritage and archives £1.64 ** 7.1% of this · £851k in 2025-26 · £1.01 per resident; similar councils £2.04 · up 2.2% on 2024-25 - Tourism £0.07 ** 0.3% of this · £36k in 2025-26 · £0.04 per resident; similar councils £0.00 · down 41.9% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Devon County Council](#d-county) - Planning and development ### Planning and development £13.92 of your bill goes to planning and development at Devon County Council. Here is how its £7.2m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Economic development and business support £5.03 ** 36.1% of this · £2.6m in 2025-26 · £3.09 per resident; similar councils £2.86 · down 65.6% on 2024-25 - Environmental initiatives £4.06 ** 29.2% of this · £2.1m in 2025-26 · £2.50 per resident; similar councils £0.25 · down 30.2% on 2024-25 - Community development £3.38 ** 24.3% of this · £1.8m in 2025-26 · £2.08 per resident; similar councils £0.74 · up 58.4% on 2024-25 - Planning policy £0.76 ** 5.4% of this · £393k in 2025-26 · £0.46 per resident; similar councils £0.26 · down 16.6% on 2024-25 - Planning applications (development management) £0.69 ** 5.0% of this · £359k in 2025-26 · £0.42 per resident; similar councils £0.62 · down 46.3% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Devon County Council](#d-county) - Public health ### Public health £5.48 of your bill goes to public health at Devon County Council. Here is how its £36.2m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Health visiting and children's 0-5 services £1.64 ** 30.0% of this · £10.9m in 2025-26 · £13 per resident; similar councils £14 · down 3.3% on 2024-25 - Sexual health £1.24 ** 22.7% of this · £8.2m in 2025-26 · £9.71 per resident; similar councils £8.08 · up 18.9% on 2024-25 - Drug and alcohol services £1.18 ** 21.6% of this · £7.8m in 2025-26 · £9.24 per resident; similar councils £11 · up 4.4% on 2024-25 - Children's 5-19 programmes £0.64 ** 11.6% of this · £4.2m in 2025-26 · £4.99 per resident; similar councils £3.87 · down 6.4% on 2024-25 - Stop smoking and tobacco control £0.34 ** 6.2% of this · £2.3m in 2025-26 · £2.67 per resident; similar councils £2.33 · up 3.0% on 2024-25 - NHS health checks and health protection £0.21 ** 3.8% of this · £1.4m in 2025-26 · £1.61 per resident; similar councils £2.50 · up 8.4% on 2024-25 - Other public health £0.09 ** 1.7% of this · £623k in 2025-26 · £0.74 per resident; similar councils £6.37 · down 79.0% on 2024-25 - Public mental health £0.08 ** 1.5% of this · £542k in 2025-26 · £0.64 per resident; similar councils £0.84 · down 34.9% on 2024-25 - Obesity and physical activity £0.05 ** 1.0% of this · £359k in 2025-26 · £0.42 per resident; similar councils £2.55 · down 0.3% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Devon County Council](#d-county) - Housing (not council homes) ### Housing (not council homes) £2.01 of your bill goes to housing (not council homes) at Devon County Council. Here is how its £1.0m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Homelessness and temporary accommodation £1.98 ** 98.7% of this · £1.0m in 2025-26 · £1.21 per resident; similar councils £0.00 · down 31.3% on 2024-25 - Other General Fund housing £0.03 ** 1.3% of this · £14k in 2025-26 · £0.02 per resident; similar councils £0.04 · down 65.9% 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. Devon County Council 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) - Devon County Council: adult social care precept, this year's increase ### Devon County Council: adult social care precept, this year's increase £36.00 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 Devon County Council's adult social care spending of £414.3m 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. - [Learning disability support](#d-county-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.learning-disability) £11.05 ** 30.7% of this precept · £127.1m in 2025-26 · £150 per resident; similar councils £141 · up 9.5% on 2024-25 - [Physical support](#d-county-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.physical) £9.95 ** 27.6% of this precept · £114.5m in 2025-26 · £135 per resident; similar councils £150 · up 6.3% on 2024-25 - [Support with memory and cognition](#d-county-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.memory) £4.88 ** 13.5% of this precept · £56.1m in 2025-26 · £66 per resident; similar councils £29 · up 12.2% on 2024-25 - Care assessment and safeguarding £3.16 ** 8.8% of this precept · £36.3m in 2025-26 · £43 per resident; similar councils £40 · down 3.7% on 2024-25 - [Mental health support](#d-county-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.mental-health) £2.77 ** 7.7% of this precept · £31.9m in 2025-26 · £38 per resident; similar councils £32 · down 4.8% on 2024-25 - Commissioning, strategy and administration £2.69 ** 7.5% of this precept · £31.0m in 2025-26 · £37 per resident; similar councils £24 · up 5.0% on 2024-25 - Social support (carers, substance misuse, isolation, asylum) £1.00 ** 2.8% of this precept · £11.5m in 2025-26 · £14 per resident; similar councils £9.67 · down 4.7% on 2024-25 - [Sensory support](#d-county-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.sensory) £0.31 ** 0.9% of this precept · £3.6m in 2025-26 · £4.21 per resident; similar councils £2.37 · up 9.4% on 2024-25 - Information and early intervention £0.15 ** 0.4% of this precept · £1.8m in 2025-26 · £2.11 per resident; similar councils £3.23 · down 7.7% on 2024-25 - Assistive equipment and technology £0.04 ** 0.1% of this precept · £425k in 2025-26 · £0.50 per resident; similar councils £5.13 · no change on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Devon County Council: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-county-adult-social-care) - Learning disability support ### Learning disability support £11.05 of your bill goes to learning disability support at Devon County Council. Here is how its £127.1m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £9.67 ** 87.6% of this · £111.3m in 2025-26 · £132 per resident; similar councils £121 · up 7.9% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £1.37 ** 12.4% of this · £15.8m in 2025-26 · £19 per resident; similar councils £15 · up 21.9% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Devon County Council: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-county-adult-social-care) - Physical support ### Physical support £9.95 of your bill goes to physical support at Devon County Council. Here is how its £114.5m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £7.33 ** 73.6% of this · £84.3m in 2025-26 · £100 per resident; similar councils £117 · down 1.6% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £2.63 ** 26.4% of this · £30.2m in 2025-26 · £36 per resident; similar councils £29 · up 37.1% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Devon County Council: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-county-adult-social-care) - Support with memory and cognition ### Support with memory and cognition £4.88 of your bill goes to support with memory and cognition at Devon County Council. Here is how its £56.1m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £4.56 ** 93.6% of this · £52.5m in 2025-26 · £62 per resident; similar councils £28 · up 12.5% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £0.31 ** 6.4% of this · £3.6m in 2025-26 · £4.28 per resident; similar councils £2.45 · up 8.9% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Devon County Council: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-county-adult-social-care) - Mental health support ### Mental health support £2.77 of your bill goes to mental health support at Devon County Council. Here is how its £31.9m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £1.78 ** 64.3% of this · £20.5m in 2025-26 · £24 per resident; similar councils £19 · up 0.3% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £0.99 ** 35.7% of this · £11.4m in 2025-26 · £13 per resident; similar councils £13 · down 12.7% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Devon County Council: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-county-adult-social-care) - Sensory support ### Sensory support £0.31 of your bill goes to sensory support at Devon County Council. Here is how its £3.6m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £0.17 ** 56.1% of this · £2.0m in 2025-26 · £2.36 per resident; similar councils £0.83 · up 14.6% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £0.14 ** 43.9% of this · £1.6m in 2025-26 · £1.85 per resident; similar councils £1.51 · up 3.4% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable ### Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable £303.20 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 Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable's adult social care spending of £474.7m 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) - Devon and Somerset Combined Fire and Rescue Authority ### Devon and Somerset Combined Fire and Rescue Authority £109.68 of your bill goes to Devon and Somerset Combined Fire and Rescue Authority. It is shared out below in proportion to how Devon and Somerset Combined Fire and Rescue Authority spent its money in 2025-26, its latest published return. - [Fire and rescue](#d-fire~fire) £108.69 ** 99.1% of this part · £103.1m in 2025-26 · £56 per resident; similar councils £48 · up 6.9% on 2024-25 - Running the council £0.99 ** 0.9% of this part · £939k in 2025-26 · £0.51 per resident; similar councils £0.78 · up 20.8% on 2024-25 **Which councils count as similar** Medians are across the 10 fire and rescue authorities closest in population: Essex Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Kent Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Authority, Lancashire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Authority, South Wales Fire Authority, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority, South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority, Avon Combined Fire and Rescue Authority. Per-resident figures use ONS mid-year population estimates. - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Devon and Somerset Combined Fire and Rescue Authority](#d-fire) - Fire and rescue ### Fire and rescue £108.69 of your bill goes to fire and rescue at Devon and Somerset Combined Fire and Rescue Authority. Here is how its £103.1m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Firefighting and rescue £99.49 ** 91.5% of this · £94.4m in 2025-26 · £51 per resident; similar councils £41 · up 7.4% on 2024-25 - Community fire safety £8.94 ** 8.2% of this · £8.5m in 2025-26 · £4.59 per resident; similar councils £5.15 · up 0.7% on 2024-25 - Fire emergency planning £0.26 ** 0.2% of this · £247k in 2025-26 · £0.13 per resident; similar councils £0.13 · up 28.6% on 2024-25 ## Parks, street cleaning and roads here What Exeter and Devon County Council 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 | £2.6m | £19 | £12 | — | down 2.2% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£19Similar councils, per resident£12Per mile of road—Changedown 2.2% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Street cleaningDetails | £1.9m | £14 | £12 | — | up 0.6% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£14Similar councils, per resident£12Per mile of road—Changeup 0.6% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Road and bridge maintenanceDetails | £27k | £0.20 | £0.62 | — | down 89.4% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£0.20Similar councils, per resident£0.62Per mile of road—Changedown 89.4% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Environmental, safety and routine maintenanceDetails | £27k | £0.20 | £0.61 | — | down 89.2% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£0.20Similar councils, per resident£0.61Per mile of road—Changedown 89.2% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Street lighting (including energy)Details | £43k | £0.31 | £0.28 | — | down 18.9% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£0.31Similar councils, per resident£0.28Per mile of road—Changedown 18.9% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Line | Net spending | Per resident | Similar councils, per resident | Per mile of road | Change | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Parks and open spaces (including play areas)Details | £2.9m | £3.39 | £2.33 | — | up 79.7% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£3.39Similar councils, per resident£2.33Per mile of road—Changeup 79.7% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Road and bridge maintenanceDetails | £29.2m | £35 | £21 | £3,664 (similar: £5,563) | down 3.9% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£35Similar councils, per resident£21Per mile of road£3,664 (similar: £5,563)Changedown 3.9% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Environmental, safety and routine maintenanceDetails | £27.6m | £33 | £17 | £3,456 (similar: £4,248) | down 3.2% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£33Similar councils, per resident£17Per mile of road£3,456 (similar: £4,248)Changedown 3.2% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Structural maintenance (resurfacing, bridges)Details | £1.7m | £1.97 | £3.54 | £208 (similar: £946) | down 14.4% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£1.97Similar councils, per resident£3.54Per mile of road£208 (similar: £946)Changedown 14.4% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Winter service (gritting)Details | £3.8m | £4.44 | £4.08 | £471 (similar: £1,012) | up 18.5% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£4.44Similar councils, per resident£4.08Per mile of road£471 (similar: £1,012)Changeup 18.5% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Street lighting (including energy)Details | £4.3m | £5.08 | £7.64 | £538 (similar: £1,704) | down 3.0% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£5.08Similar councils, per resident£7.64Per mile of road£538 (similar: £1,704)Changedown 3.0% 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 | | --- | --- | --- | | Environment and regulationDetails | £69 | £56 | | Median£56 | | | | Parks, leisure, libraries and cultureDetails | £56 | £23 | | Median£23 | | | | Housing (not council homes)Details | £52 | £24 | | Median£24 | | | | Running the councilDetails | £39 | £41 | | Median£41 | | | | Planning and developmentDetails | £-5.13 | £22 | | Median£22 | | | | Roads and transportDetails | £-45.84 | £-4.18 | | Median£-4.18 | | | - Exeter spent **33.5%** of its gross service spending on its own staff in 2025-26 (median for district councils in England: 39.3%); the rest went on suppliers, contractors, grants, benefits and other running costs. - Its published payments of £500 or more came to **£46.4m** between 2025-08 and 2026-07. These include capital and council housing spending, so they are not a share of the figures above. - Payments we classify as consultancy and agency staff came to **23.2%** of its staff costs (median among the 4 other district councils in England whose £500 data is read: 9.8%). The two come from different sources and periods, so this is a guide to scale, not an exact share. | Service | Per resident | Median | | --- | --- | --- | | EducationDetails | £638 | £736 | | Median£736 | | | | Adult social careDetails | £490 | £447 | | Median£447 | | | | Children's social careDetails | £264 | £239 | | Median£239 | | | | Roads and transportDetails | £77 | £65 | | Median£65 | | | | Environment and regulationDetails | £60 | £57 | | Median£57 | | | | Public healthDetails | £43 | £53 | | Median£53 | | | | Running the councilDetails | £18 | £23 | | Median£23 | | | | Parks, leisure, libraries and cultureDetails | £14 | £17 | | Median£17 | | | | Planning and developmentDetails | £8.55 | £4.63 | | Median£4.63 | | | | Housing (not council homes)Details | £1.23 | £3.07 | | Median£3.07 | | | - Devon County Council spent **29.1%** of its gross service spending on its own staff in 2025-26 (median for county councils: 28.1%); 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 Exeter](/council-tax/england/exeter/) and [everything else about Exeter](/your-area/exeter/). ## Common questions What does council tax pay for in Exeter? A Band D bill of £2,495.36 is split between Exeter, Devon County Council, Devon County Council: adult social care precept, this year's increase, Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable, Devon and Somerset Combined Fire and Rescue Authority. In proportion to spending, the largest line is adult social care, £797.96.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 Exeter](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/parking/exeter/) - [Back to Exeter: your area](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/your-area/exeter/) - [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.