# Where your council tax goes in Liverpool url: https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/council-tax/england/liverpool/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 Liverpool Last updated 29 September 2026. Figures refresh every night. [How each figure is worked out](/methodology/). A Band D council tax bill in **Liverpool** is **£2,673.59** for 2026-27, split between Liverpool £2,211.43, Liverpool: adult social care precept, this year's increase £42.94, Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable £293.97, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority £101.25, The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority £24.00. Shared out in proportion to what each body spends, the largest single line is adult social care at Liverpool: **£810.70** of the bill. Council tax pays for 12% 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 - £2,673.59Band D bill, 2026-27 As of 6 April 2026 - £2,211.43Goes to Liverpool itself (83%) As of 6 April 2026 - £810.70Largest line: adult social care As of 28 September 2026 - 12.3%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. 2211.43 42.94 293.97 101.25 24.00 Liverpool 83%Liverpool: adult social care precept, this year's increase 2%Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable 11%Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority 4%The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority 1% ## 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 12.3%** of the money Liverpool had to spend in 2025-26. ******** - Council tax 12.3% £258.2m - Business rates 18.2% £382.0m - Government grants for specific services 46.3% £974.1m - Fees, charges and other income 23.3% £489.7m It also put £4.1m 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: £2,673.59 - [Liverpool](#d-council) £2,211.43 ** Your council · 82.7% of the bill - [Liverpool: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) £42.94 ** Adult social care precept · 1.6% of the bill - [Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable](#d-police) £293.97 ** Police · 11.0% of the bill - [Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority](#d-fire) £101.25 ** Fire and rescue · 3.8% of the bill - [The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority](#d-combined) £24.00 ** Combined authority (mayor) · 0.9% of the bill - [Your bill](#d-bill) - Liverpool ### Liverpool £2,211.43 of your bill goes to Liverpool. It is shared out below in proportion to how Liverpool spent its money in 2025-26, its latest published return. - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) £810.70 ** 36.7% of this part · £308.6m in 2025-26 · £608 per resident; similar councils £442 · up 9.7% on 2024-25 - [Children's social care](#d-council~childrens-social-care) £513.72 ** 23.2% of this part · £195.6m in 2025-26 · £385 per resident; similar councils £292 · down 0.4% on 2024-25 - [Education](#d-council~education) £338.98 ** 15.3% of this part · £586.3m in 2025-26 · £1,154 per resident; similar councils £742 · up 7.7% on 2024-25 - [Housing (not council homes)](#d-council~housing) £161.88 ** 7.3% of this part · £61.6m in 2025-26 · £121 per resident; similar councils £44 · up 19.3% on 2024-25 Not council homes: [see the note](#d-council~housing). - [Environment and regulation](#d-council~environment) £120.66 ** 5.5% of this part · £45.9m in 2025-26 · £90 per resident; similar councils £94 · up 16.8% on 2024-25 - [Parks, leisure, libraries and culture](#d-council~culture-leisure) £111.03 ** 5.0% of this part · £42.3m in 2025-26 · £83 per resident; similar councils £46 · up 22.0% on 2024-25 - [Planning and development](#d-council~planning-development) £61.92 ** 2.8% of this part · £23.6m in 2025-26 · £46 per resident; similar councils £34 · up 19.5% on 2024-25 - [Running the council](#d-council~central) £52.86 ** 2.4% of this part · £20.1m in 2025-26 · £40 per resident; similar councils £61 · down 8.0% on 2024-25 - [Roads and transport](#d-council~highways-transport) £27.07 ** 1.2% of this part · £10.3m in 2025-26 · £20 per resident; similar councils £27 · down 7.9% on 2024-25 - [Public health](#d-council~public-health) £12.26 ** 0.6% of this part · £57.9m in 2025-26 · £114 per resident; similar councils £86 · up 3.9% on 2024-25 - Other services £0.36 ** under 0.1% of this part · £138k in 2025-26 · £0.27 per resident; similar councils £0.00 · down 34.3% on 2024-25 Before sharing out your bill, the part of education paid for by the Dedicated Schools Grant (£457.3m) and public health paid for by the public health grant (£53.2m) 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: Bradford, Kirklees, Sheffield, Sheffield, Manchester, Wakefield, Coventry, Sandwell, Wigan, Dudley. Per-resident figures use ONS mid-year population estimates. - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Liverpool](#d-council) - Adult social care ### Adult social care £810.70 of your bill goes to adult social care at Liverpool. Here is how its £308.6m of net spending on it divides in the return. - [Physical support](#d-council~adult-social-care.physical) £287.67 ** 35.5% of this · £109.5m in 2025-26 · £216 per resident; similar councils £141 · up 10.8% on 2024-25 - [Learning disability support](#d-council~adult-social-care.learning-disability) £223.83 ** 27.6% of this · £85.2m in 2025-26 · £168 per resident; similar councils £160 · up 7.9% on 2024-25 - [Mental health support](#d-council~adult-social-care.mental-health) £119.17 ** 14.7% of this · £45.4m in 2025-26 · £89 per resident; similar councils £44 · up 9.1% on 2024-25 - [Support with memory and cognition](#d-council~adult-social-care.memory) £61.71 ** 7.6% of this · £23.5m in 2025-26 · £46 per resident; similar councils £19 · up 46.4% on 2024-25 - Care assessment and safeguarding £55.39 ** 6.8% of this · £21.1m in 2025-26 · £42 per resident; similar councils £35 · up 6.0% on 2024-25 - Commissioning, strategy and administration £27.91 ** 3.4% of this · £10.6m in 2025-26 · £21 per resident; similar councils £24 · down 18.1% on 2024-25 - Information and early intervention £12.50 ** 1.5% of this · £4.8m in 2025-26 · £9.37 per resident; similar councils £6.71 · up 1.8% on 2024-25 - Assistive equipment and technology £11.02 ** 1.4% of this · £4.2m in 2025-26 · £8.26 per resident; similar councils £4.70 · down 9.3% on 2024-25 - [Sensory support](#d-council~adult-social-care.sensory) £7.10 ** 0.9% of this · £2.7m in 2025-26 · £5.32 per resident; similar councils £4.71 · up 5.1% on 2024-25 - Social support (carers, substance misuse, isolation, asylum) £4.40 ** 0.5% of this · £1.7m in 2025-26 · £3.30 per resident; similar councils £8.94 · up 54.4% on 2024-25 #### Named suppliers In Liverpool's own records of payments over £500 for 2025-07 to 2026-06, payments our keyword matching links to adult social care came to £343.0m across 112,996 payments. Those records leave out salaries, so they are not the whole cost. - Names withheld by the council: £23.5m (12566 payments) - MERSEY CARE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST: £15.9m (30 payments) - AUTISM INITIATIVES: £13.2m (5723 payments) - COMMUNITY INTEGRATED CARE: £11.9m (3108 payments) - CHANGE GROW LIVE SERVICES LTD: £11.4m (17 payments) [Search these payments](/councils/spending-over-500/liverpool/?service=adult-social-care#search) - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Liverpool](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Physical support ### Physical support £287.67 of your bill goes to physical support at Liverpool. Here is how its £109.5m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £169.93 ** 59.1% of this · £64.7m in 2025-26 · £127 per resident; similar councils £105 · up 9.7% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £117.74 ** 40.9% of this · £44.8m in 2025-26 · £88 per resident; similar councils £40 · up 12.5% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Liverpool](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Learning disability support ### Learning disability support £223.83 of your bill goes to learning disability support at Liverpool. Here is how its £85.2m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £203.05 ** 90.7% of this · £77.3m in 2025-26 · £152 per resident; similar councils £147 · up 7.9% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £20.78 ** 9.3% of this · £7.9m in 2025-26 · £16 per resident; similar councils £17 · up 8.1% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Liverpool](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Mental health support ### Mental health support £119.17 of your bill goes to mental health support at Liverpool. Here is how its £45.4m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £92.12 ** 77.3% of this · £35.1m in 2025-26 · £69 per resident; similar councils £26 · up 8.9% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £27.05 ** 22.7% of this · £10.3m in 2025-26 · £20 per resident; similar councils £15 · up 10.0% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Liverpool](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Support with memory and cognition ### Support with memory and cognition £61.71 of your bill goes to support with memory and cognition at Liverpool. Here is how its £23.5m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £56.77 ** 92.0% of this · £21.6m in 2025-26 · £43 per resident; similar councils £15 · up 45.2% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £4.94 ** 8.0% of this · £1.9m in 2025-26 · £3.70 per resident; similar councils £3.28 · up 61.4% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Liverpool](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Sensory support ### Sensory support £7.10 of your bill goes to sensory support at Liverpool. Here is how its £2.7m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £4.95 ** 69.6% of this · £1.9m in 2025-26 · £3.71 per resident; similar councils £1.23 · down 7.6% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £2.16 ** 30.4% of this · £821k in 2025-26 · £1.62 per resident; similar councils £1.48 · up 53.2% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Liverpool](#d-council) - Children's social care ### Children's social care £513.72 of your bill goes to children's social care at Liverpool. Here is how its £195.6m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Children looked after £291.04 ** 56.7% of this · £110.8m in 2025-26 · £218 per resident; similar councils £161 · up 0.9% on 2024-25 - Safeguarding and social work £87.56 ** 17.0% of this · £33.3m in 2025-26 · £66 per resident; similar councils £54 · down 6.1% on 2024-25 - Other children's and families' services £48.44 ** 9.4% of this · £18.4m in 2025-26 · £36 per resident; similar councils £1.29 · down 13.9% on 2024-25 - Family support £42.60 ** 8.3% of this · £16.2m in 2025-26 · £32 per resident; similar councils £32 · down 8.4% on 2024-25 - Children's centres and early years £17.70 ** 3.4% of this · £6.7m in 2025-26 · £13 per resident; similar councils £12 · up 58.5% on 2024-25 - Youth justice £10.51 ** 2.0% of this · £4.0m in 2025-26 · £7.88 per resident; similar councils £5.99 · up 5.5% on 2024-25 - Asylum-seeking children £8.25 ** 1.6% of this · £3.1m in 2025-26 · £6.19 per resident; similar councils £1.90 · up 58.6% on 2024-25 - Services for young people £7.62 ** 1.5% of this · £2.9m in 2025-26 · £5.71 per resident; similar councils £5.35 · up 54.3% on 2024-25 #### Named suppliers In Liverpool's own records of payments over £500 for 2025-07 to 2026-06, payments our keyword matching links to children's social care came to £150.1m across 23,742 payments. Those records leave out salaries, so they are not the whole cost. - LIVERPOOL SCHOOLS SERVICES LTD VARI: £17.5m (138 payments) - MATRIX SCM LTD: £10.2m (7809 payments) - Names withheld by the council: £5.8m (2479 payments) - BIRTENSHAW MERSEYSIDE: £3.2m (553 payments) - ROYAL SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND: £2.3m (659 payments) [Search these payments](/councils/spending-over-500/liverpool/?service=childrens-social-care#search) - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Liverpool](#d-council) - Education ### Education £338.98 of your bill goes to education at Liverpool. Here is how its £586.3m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Primary schools £154.20 ** 45.5% of this · £266.7m in 2025-26 · £525 per resident; similar councils £314 · up 4.6% on 2024-25 - Secondary schools £61.60 ** 18.2% of this · £106.5m in 2025-26 · £210 per resident; similar councils £106 · down 1.7% on 2024-25 - Special schools and alternative provision £46.86 ** 13.8% of this · £81.1m in 2025-26 · £160 per resident; similar councils £126 · up 12.0% on 2024-25 - Early years and nursery £44.43 ** 13.1% of this · £76.8m in 2025-26 · £151 per resident; similar councils £136 · up 44.5% on 2024-25 - Other education £28.48 ** 8.4% of this · £49.3m in 2025-26 · £97 per resident; similar councils £72 · up 14.4% on 2024-25 - Post-16 £3.42 ** 1.0% of this · £5.9m in 2025-26 · £12 per resident; similar councils £17 · down 53.5% on 2024-25 #### Named suppliers In Liverpool's own records of payments over £500 for 2025-07 to 2026-06, payments our keyword matching links to education came to £11.9m across 274 payments. Those records leave out salaries, so they are not the whole cost. - ROBERTSON CONSTRUCTION NORTH WEST L: £2.6m (9 payments) - SEDDON CONSTRUCTION LTD: £2.1m (14 payments) - THE LIVERPOOL JOINT CATHOLIC AND CH: £1.6m (6 payments) - KROL CORLETT CONSTRUCTION LTD: £1.1m (19 payments) - ARCHDIOCESE OF LIVERPOOL: £887k (3 payments) [Search these payments](/councils/spending-over-500/liverpool/?service=education#search) - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Liverpool](#d-council) - Housing (not council homes) ### Housing (not council homes) £161.88 of your bill goes to housing (not council homes) at Liverpool. Here is how its £61.6m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Homelessness and temporary accommodation £125.00 ** 77.2% of this · £49.0m in 2025-26 · £96 per resident; similar councils £28 · up 37.0% on 2024-25 - Supporting People and welfare services £28.69 ** 17.7% of this · £11.2m in 2025-26 · £22 per resident; similar councils £2.52 · down 16.9% on 2024-25 - Housing strategy, advice and enabling £4.99 ** 3.1% of this · £2.0m in 2025-26 · £3.85 per resident; similar councils £1.71 · up 57.1% on 2024-25 - Housing benefit administration and discretionary payments £3.05 ** 1.9% of this · £1.2m in 2025-26 · £2.35 per resident; similar councils £5.95 · up 129.6% on 2024-25 - Other General Fund housing £0.16 ** under 0.1% of this · £61k in 2025-26 · £0.12 per resident; similar councils £0.00 · down 37.1% 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. Liverpool 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) - [Liverpool](#d-council) - Environment and regulation ### Environment and regulation £120.66 of your bill goes to environment and regulation at Liverpool. Here is how its £45.9m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Street cleaning £50.76 ** 42.1% of this · £19.4m in 2025-26 · £38 per resident; similar councils £14 · up 17.8% on 2024-25 - Waste collection £43.13 ** 35.7% of this · £16.5m in 2025-26 · £33 per resident; similar councils £16 · up 17.5% on 2024-25 - Community safety and CCTV £9.21 ** 7.6% of this · £3.5m in 2025-26 · £6.95 per resident; similar councils £6.26 · down 20.3% on 2024-25 - Environmental health, food safety, pest control and licensing £9.17 ** 7.6% of this · £3.5m in 2025-26 · £6.91 per resident; similar councils £8.81 · down 5.6% on 2024-25 - Recycling and waste minimisation £5.85 ** 4.8% of this · £2.2m in 2025-26 · £4.41 per resident; similar councils £16 - Cemeteries and crematoria £2.38 ** 2.0% of this · £913k in 2025-26 · £1.80 per resident; similar councils £-1.34 · up 48.7% on 2024-25 - Trading standards £0.15 ** 0.1% of this · £56k in 2025-26 · £0.11 per resident; similar councils £1.27 · down 1.8% on 2024-25 #### Named suppliers In Liverpool's own records of payments over £500 for 2025-07 to 2026-06, payments our keyword matching links to environment and regulation came to £26.8m across 79 payments. Those records leave out salaries, so they are not the whole cost. - MERSEYSIDE WASTE DISPOSAL AUTHORITY: £26.1m (9 payments) - LIVERPOOL STREETSCENE SERVICES LIMI: £400k (9 payments) - ST HELENS MBC: £91k (2 payments) - SED SERVICES LTD: £61k (8 payments) - KIRKBY SKIPS LTD: £33k (14 payments) [Search these payments](/councils/spending-over-500/liverpool/?service=environment#search) - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Liverpool](#d-council) - Parks, leisure, libraries and culture ### Parks, leisure, libraries and culture £111.03 of your bill goes to parks, leisure, libraries and culture at Liverpool. Here is how its £42.3m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Sport and leisure £40.81 ** 36.8% of this · £15.5m in 2025-26 · £31 per resident; similar councils £11 · up 7.7% on 2024-25 Paid most (our matching of £500 records): NHS CHESHIRE AND MERSEYSIDE ICB £1.2m; CASS DESIGN CONSULTANTS LTD £34k. [Search](/councils/spending-over-500/liverpool/?service=culture-leisure.sport#search) - Libraries £36.76 ** 33.1% of this · £14.0m in 2025-26 · £28 per resident; similar councils £10 · up 56.1% on 2024-25 Paid most (our matching of £500 records): PETERS LTD £63k; OVERDRIVE INC £41k. [Search](/councils/spending-over-500/liverpool/?service=culture-leisure.libraries#search) - Museums, arts, heritage and archives £22.40 ** 20.2% of this · £8.5m in 2025-26 · £17 per resident; similar councils £8.29 · down 0.5% on 2024-25 - Parks and open spaces (including play areas) £9.83 ** 8.9% of this · £3.7m in 2025-26 · £7.37 per resident; similar councils £13 · up 69.7% on 2024-25 - Tourism £1.22 ** 1.1% of this · £464k in 2025-26 · £0.91 per resident; similar councils £0.60 · up 1.1% on 2024-25 #### Named suppliers In Liverpool's own records of payments over £500 for 2025-07 to 2026-06, payments our keyword matching links to parks, leisure, libraries and culture came to £1.6m across 209 payments. Those records leave out salaries, so they are not the whole cost. - NHS CHESHIRE AND MERSEYSIDE ICB: £1.2m (1 payment) - PETERS LTD: £63k (23 payments) - OVERDRIVE INC: £41k (13 payments) - BOLINDA UK LTD: £37k (28 payments) - CASS DESIGN CONSULTANTS LTD: £34k (10 payments) [Search these payments](/councils/spending-over-500/liverpool/?service=culture-leisure#search) - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Liverpool](#d-council) - Planning and development ### Planning and development £61.92 of your bill goes to planning and development at Liverpool. Here is how its £23.6m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Economic development and business support £35.98 ** 58.1% of this · £13.7m in 2025-26 · £27 per resident; similar councils £19 · up 20.6% on 2024-25 - Community development £12.67 ** 20.5% of this · £4.8m in 2025-26 · £9.49 per resident; similar councils £5.46 · up 8.7% on 2024-25 - Planning policy £4.34 ** 7.0% of this · £1.7m in 2025-26 · £3.25 per resident; similar councils £3.19 · up 4.9% on 2024-25 - Planning applications (development management) £3.39 ** 5.5% of this · £1.3m in 2025-26 · £2.54 per resident; similar councils £2.10 · down 12.1% on 2024-25 - Environmental initiatives £3.37 ** 5.4% of this · £1.3m in 2025-26 · £2.53 per resident; similar councils £0.32 · up 370.0% on 2024-25 - Building control £2.17 ** 3.5% of this · £827k in 2025-26 · £1.63 per resident; similar councils £1.09 · up 34.7% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Liverpool](#d-council) - Running the council ### Running the council £52.86 of your bill goes to running the council at Liverpool. Here is how its £20.1m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Corporate and democratic core £32.11 ** 60.7% of this · £14.6m in 2025-26 · £29 per resident; similar councils £16 · up 9.1% on 2024-25 - Collecting council tax and business rates £8.97 ** 17.0% of this · £4.1m in 2025-26 · £8.03 per resident; similar councils £8.91 · down 50.8% on 2024-25 - Local welfare assistance £4.90 ** 9.3% of this · £2.2m in 2025-26 · £4.39 per resident; similar councils £15 · up 76.9% on 2024-25 - Coroners' and other courts £3.08 ** 5.8% of this · £1.4m in 2025-26 · £2.76 per resident; similar councils £2.14 · up 2.3% on 2024-25 - Other central services £1.51 ** 2.9% of this · £686k in 2025-26 · £1.35 per resident; similar councils £0.13 - Elections and electoral registration £1.22 ** 2.3% of this · £556k in 2025-26 · £1.09 per resident; similar councils £2.55 · down 17.5% on 2024-25 - Registering births, deaths and marriages £0.68 ** 1.3% of this · £310k in 2025-26 · £0.61 per resident; similar councils £0.16 - Emergency planning £0.38 ** 0.7% of this · £174k in 2025-26 · £0.34 per resident; similar councils £0.55 · down 61.2% on 2024-25 #### Named suppliers In Liverpool's own records of payments over £500 for 2025-07 to 2026-06, payments our keyword matching links to running the council came to £58.0m across 2,854 payments. Those records leave out salaries, so they are not the whole cost. - LIVERPOOL CITY REGION COMBINED AUTH: £33.6m (9 payments) - MERSEYSIDE PENSION FUND: £3.0m (19 payments) - MHCLG: £3.0m (1 payment) - Names withheld by the council: £2.1m (285 payments) - CITIZENS ADVICE LIVERPOOL: £2.0m (2 payments) [Search these payments](/councils/spending-over-500/liverpool/?service=central#search) - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Liverpool](#d-council) - Roads and transport ### Roads and transport £27.07 of your bill goes to roads and transport at Liverpool. Here is how its £10.3m of net spending on it divides in the return. - [Road and bridge maintenance](#d-council~highways-transport.maintenance) £13.04 ** 48.2% of this · £8.9m in 2025-26 · £18 per resident; similar councils £16 · up 14.6% on 2024-25 - Street lighting (including energy) £9.85 ** 36.4% of this · £6.7m in 2025-26 · £13 per resident; similar councils £10 · up 15.9% on 2024-25 - Transport planning and policy £2.23 ** 8.2% of this · £1.5m in 2025-26 · £3.00 per resident; similar councils £0.30 · up 74.7% on 2024-25 - Traffic management and road safety £1.24 ** 4.6% of this · £850k in 2025-26 · £1.67 per resident; similar councils £2.43 · down 22.4% on 2024-25 - Winter service (gritting) £0.70 ** 2.6% of this · £480k in 2025-26 · £0.95 per resident; similar councils £3.06 · down 20.9% on 2024-25 #### Named suppliers In Liverpool's own records of payments over £500 for 2025-07 to 2026-06, payments our keyword matching links to roads and transport came to £26.9m across 1,390 payments. Those records leave out salaries, so they are not the whole cost. - A1 TAXIS (FIRMDIAL LTD/RAREHIRE LTD: £5.1m (21 payments) - COMPUTER CAB (LIVERPOOL) LTD: £5.0m (60 payments) - NORTHWEST TRAVELS LTD: £1.9m (120 payments) - MUNI-SERV (HIRE) LTD: £1.8m (68 payments) - RTTS TRAVEL LTD: £1.5m (11 payments) [Search these payments](/councils/spending-over-500/liverpool/?service=highways-transport#search) - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Liverpool](#d-council) - [Roads and transport](#d-council~highways-transport) - Road and bridge maintenance ### Road and bridge maintenance £13.04 of your bill goes to road and bridge maintenance at Liverpool. Here is how its £8.9m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Environmental, safety and routine maintenance £7.97 ** 61.1% of this · £5.4m in 2025-26 · £11 per resident; similar councils £12 · up 16.2% on 2024-25 - Structural maintenance (resurfacing, bridges) £5.07 ** 38.9% of this · £3.5m in 2025-26 · £6.82 per resident; similar councils £1.27 · up 12.2% on 2024-25 #### Named suppliers In Liverpool's own records of payments over £500 for 2025-07 to 2026-06, payments our keyword matching links to road and bridge maintenance came to £3.3m across 32 payments. Those records leave out salaries, so they are not the whole cost. - HUYTON ASPHALT LTD: £971k (8 payments) - LIVERPOOL STREETSCENE SERVICES LIMI: £787k (6 payments) - J MCCANN & CO LTD: £773k (6 payments) - DOWHIGH LTD: £714k (8 payments) - YUNEX LTD: £91k (1 payment) [Search these payments](/councils/spending-over-500/liverpool/?service=highways-transport.maintenance#search) - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Liverpool](#d-council) - Public health ### Public health £12.26 of your bill goes to public health at Liverpool. Here is how its £57.9m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Drug and alcohol services £4.16 ** 33.9% of this · £19.6m in 2025-26 · £39 per resident; similar councils £18 · down 4.3% on 2024-25 - Health visiting and children's 0-5 services £2.61 ** 21.3% of this · £12.3m in 2025-26 · £24 per resident; similar councils £19 · up 4.4% on 2024-25 - Other public health £2.25 ** 18.3% of this · £10.6m in 2025-26 · £21 per resident; similar councils £12 · up 20.3% on 2024-25 - Sexual health £1.71 ** 13.9% of this · £8.1m in 2025-26 · £16 per resident; similar councils £10 · up 6.2% on 2024-25 - Children's 5-19 programmes £0.57 ** 4.7% of this · £2.7m in 2025-26 · £5.32 per resident; similar councils £4.60 · down 8.7% on 2024-25 - Stop smoking and tobacco control £0.39 ** 3.2% of this · £1.8m in 2025-26 · £3.63 per resident; similar councils £2.80 · up 5.2% on 2024-25 - NHS health checks and health protection £0.26 ** 2.1% of this · £1.2m in 2025-26 · £2.39 per resident; similar councils £3.68 · up 60.5% on 2024-25 - Obesity and physical activity £0.20 ** 1.7% of this · £959k in 2025-26 · £1.89 per resident; similar councils £5.39 · up 11.8% on 2024-25 - Public mental health £0.12 ** 1.0% of this · £563k in 2025-26 · £1.11 per resident; similar councils £3.17 · down 15.3% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - Liverpool: adult social care precept, this year's increase ### Liverpool: adult social care precept, this year's increase £42.94 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 Liverpool's adult social care spending of £308.6m 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) £15.24 ** 35.5% of this precept · £109.5m in 2025-26 · £216 per resident; similar councils £141 · up 10.8% on 2024-25 - [Learning disability support](#d-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.learning-disability) £11.86 ** 27.6% of this precept · £85.2m in 2025-26 · £168 per resident; similar councils £160 · up 7.9% on 2024-25 - [Mental health support](#d-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.mental-health) £6.31 ** 14.7% of this precept · £45.4m in 2025-26 · £89 per resident; similar councils £44 · up 9.1% on 2024-25 - [Support with memory and cognition](#d-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.memory) £3.27 ** 7.6% of this precept · £23.5m in 2025-26 · £46 per resident; similar councils £19 · up 46.4% on 2024-25 - Care assessment and safeguarding £2.93 ** 6.8% of this precept · £21.1m in 2025-26 · £42 per resident; similar councils £35 · up 6.0% on 2024-25 - Commissioning, strategy and administration £1.48 ** 3.4% of this precept · £10.6m in 2025-26 · £21 per resident; similar councils £24 · down 18.1% on 2024-25 - Information and early intervention £0.66 ** 1.5% of this precept · £4.8m in 2025-26 · £9.37 per resident; similar councils £6.71 · up 1.8% on 2024-25 - Assistive equipment and technology £0.58 ** 1.4% of this precept · £4.2m in 2025-26 · £8.26 per resident; similar councils £4.70 · down 9.3% on 2024-25 - [Sensory support](#d-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.sensory) £0.38 ** 0.9% of this precept · £2.7m in 2025-26 · £5.32 per resident; similar councils £4.71 · up 5.1% on 2024-25 - Social support (carers, substance misuse, isolation, asylum) £0.23 ** 0.5% of this precept · £1.7m in 2025-26 · £3.30 per resident; similar councils £8.94 · up 54.4% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Liverpool: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Physical support ### Physical support £15.24 of your bill goes to physical support at Liverpool. Here is how its £109.5m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £9.00 ** 59.1% of this · £64.7m in 2025-26 · £127 per resident; similar councils £105 · up 9.7% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £6.24 ** 40.9% of this · £44.8m in 2025-26 · £88 per resident; similar councils £40 · up 12.5% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Liverpool: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Learning disability support ### Learning disability support £11.86 of your bill goes to learning disability support at Liverpool. Here is how its £85.2m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £10.75 ** 90.7% of this · £77.3m in 2025-26 · £152 per resident; similar councils £147 · up 7.9% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £1.10 ** 9.3% of this · £7.9m in 2025-26 · £16 per resident; similar councils £17 · up 8.1% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Liverpool: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Mental health support ### Mental health support £6.31 of your bill goes to mental health support at Liverpool. Here is how its £45.4m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £4.88 ** 77.3% of this · £35.1m in 2025-26 · £69 per resident; similar councils £26 · up 8.9% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £1.43 ** 22.7% of this · £10.3m in 2025-26 · £20 per resident; similar councils £15 · up 10.0% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Liverpool: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Support with memory and cognition ### Support with memory and cognition £3.27 of your bill goes to support with memory and cognition at Liverpool. Here is how its £23.5m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £3.01 ** 92.0% of this · £21.6m in 2025-26 · £43 per resident; similar councils £15 · up 45.2% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £0.26 ** 8.0% of this · £1.9m in 2025-26 · £3.70 per resident; similar councils £3.28 · up 61.4% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Liverpool: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Sensory support ### Sensory support £0.38 of your bill goes to sensory support at Liverpool. Here is how its £2.7m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £0.26 ** 69.6% of this · £1.9m in 2025-26 · £3.71 per resident; similar councils £1.23 · down 7.6% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £0.11 ** 30.4% of this · £821k in 2025-26 · £1.62 per resident; similar councils £1.48 · up 53.2% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable ### Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable £293.97 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 Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable's adult social care spending of £495.9m 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) - Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority ### Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority £101.25 of your bill goes to Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority. It is shared out below in proportion to how Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority spent its money in 2025-26, its latest published return. - [Fire and rescue](#d-fire~fire) £100.01 ** 98.8% of this part · £63.9m in 2025-26 · £43 per resident; similar councils £48 · up 8.1% on 2024-25 - Running the council £1.24 ** 1.2% of this part · £793k in 2025-26 · £0.54 per resident; similar councils £0.86 · up 22.4% on 2024-25 **Which councils count as similar** Medians are across the 10 fire and rescue authorities closest in population: South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority, South Wales Fire Authority, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Authority, Lancashire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Avon Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Nottinghamshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Staffordshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Devon and Somerset Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Leicestershire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Authority. Per-resident figures use ONS mid-year population estimates. - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority](#d-fire) - Fire and rescue ### Fire and rescue £100.01 of your bill goes to fire and rescue at Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority. Here is how its £63.9m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Firefighting and rescue £88.23 ** 88.2% of this · £56.4m in 2025-26 · £38 per resident; similar councils £42 · up 11.6% on 2024-25 - Community fire safety £11.78 ** 11.8% of this · £7.5m in 2025-26 · £5.09 per resident; similar councils £5.00 · down 12.6% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority ### The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority £24.00 of your bill goes to The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. It is shared out below in proportion to how The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority spent its money in 2025-26, its latest published return. - [Roads and transport](#d-combined~highways-transport) £15.65 ** 65.2% of this part · £265.7m in 2025-26 · £165 per resident · up 14.5% on 2024-25 - [Education](#d-combined~education) £4.36 ** 18.2% of this part · £74.0m in 2025-26 · £46 per resident · up 5.7% on 2024-25 - [Planning and development](#d-combined~planning-development) £3.25 ** 13.5% of this part · £55.1m in 2025-26 · £34 per resident · up 4.9% on 2024-25 - [Running the council](#d-combined~central) £0.41 ** 1.7% of this part · £7.0m in 2025-26 · £4.36 per resident · down 38.7% on 2024-25 - Housing (not council homes) £0.29 ** 1.2% of this part · £4.9m in 2025-26 · £3.05 per resident · up 10.1% on 2024-25 Not council homes: [see the note](#d-combined). - [Parks, leisure, libraries and culture](#d-combined~culture-leisure) £0.05 ** 0.2% of this part · £803k in 2025-26 · £0.50 per resident · down 52.5% 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. The Liverpool City Region 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) - [The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority](#d-combined) - Roads and transport ### Roads and transport £15.65 of your bill goes to roads and transport at The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. Here is how its £265.7m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Support for bus, rail and other public transport £12.61 ** 80.6% of this · £214.1m in 2025-26 · £133 per resident · up 20.5% on 2024-25 - Concessionary bus fares £2.19 ** 14.0% of this · £37.1m in 2025-26 · £23 per resident · down 18.1% on 2024-25 - Transport planning and policy £0.85 ** 5.4% of this · £14.4m in 2025-26 · £8.95 per resident · up 58.9% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority](#d-combined) - Education ### Education £4.36 of your bill goes to education at The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. Here is how its £74.0m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Other education £4.28 ** 98.3% of this · £72.7m in 2025-26 · £45 per resident · up 4.1% on 2024-25 - Secondary schools £0.04 ** 0.8% of this · £613k in 2025-26 · £0.38 per resident · up 873.0% on 2024-25 - Post-16 £0.04 ** 0.8% of this · £610k in 2025-26 · £0.38 per resident · up 20233.3% on 2024-25 - Primary schools £0.00 ** under 0.1% of this · £14k in 2025-26 · £0.01 per resident · up 133.3% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority](#d-combined) - Planning and development ### Planning and development £3.25 of your bill goes to planning and development at The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. Here is how its £55.1m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Economic development and business support £2.29 ** 70.5% of this · £38.8m in 2025-26 · £24 per resident · up 2.2% on 2024-25 - Environmental initiatives £0.48 ** 14.8% of this · £8.2m in 2025-26 · £5.06 per resident · down 15.3% on 2024-25 - Community development £0.44 ** 13.4% of this · £7.4m in 2025-26 · £4.59 per resident · up 100.5% on 2024-25 - Planning policy £0.04 ** 1.3% of this · £718k in 2025-26 · £0.45 per resident · down 41.5% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority](#d-combined) - Running the council ### Running the council £0.41 of your bill goes to running the council at The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. Here is how its £7.0m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Corporate and democratic core £0.36 ** 87.7% of this · £6.2m in 2025-26 · £3.83 per resident · down 34.7% on 2024-25 - Other central services £0.05 ** 12.3% of this · £868k in 2025-26 · £0.54 per resident - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority](#d-combined) - Parks, leisure, libraries and culture ### Parks, leisure, libraries and culture £0.05 of your bill goes to parks, leisure, libraries and culture at The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. Here is how its £803k of net spending on it divides in the return. - Museums, arts, heritage and archives £0.04 ** 90.7% of this · £728k in 2025-26 · £0.45 per resident · down 39.0% on 2024-25 - Tourism £0.00 ** 9.3% of this · £75k in 2025-26 · £0.05 per resident · down 84.8% on 2024-25 ## Parks, street cleaning and roads here What Liverpool 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 | £7.37 | £13 | — | up 69.7% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£7.37Similar councils, per resident£13Per mile of road—Changeup 69.7% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Street cleaningDetails | £19.4m | £38 | £14 | £21,814 (similar: £7,079) | up 17.8% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£38Similar councils, per resident£14Per mile of road£21,814 (similar: £7,079)Changeup 17.8% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Road and bridge maintenanceDetails | £8.9m | £18 | £16 | £10,001 (similar: £8,663) | up 14.6% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£18Similar councils, per resident£16Per mile of road£10,001 (similar: £8,663)Changeup 14.6% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Environmental, safety and routine maintenanceDetails | £5.4m | £11 | £12 | £6,112 (similar: £6,059) | up 16.2% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£11Similar councils, per resident£12Per mile of road£6,112 (similar: £6,059)Changeup 16.2% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Structural maintenance (resurfacing, bridges)Details | £3.5m | £6.82 | £1.27 | £3,889 (similar: £514) | up 12.2% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£6.82Similar councils, per resident£1.27Per mile of road£3,889 (similar: £514)Changeup 12.2% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Winter service (gritting)Details | £480k | £0.95 | £3.06 | £539 (similar: £1,282) | down 20.9% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£0.95Similar councils, per resident£3.06Per mile of road£539 (similar: £1,282)Changedown 20.9% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Street lighting (including energy)Details | £6.7m | £13 | £10 | £7,552 (similar: £4,914) | up 15.9% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£13Similar councils, per resident£10Per mile of road£7,552 (similar: £4,914)Changeup 15.9% 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 | £1,154 | £869 | | Median£869 | | | | Adult social careDetails | £608 | £480 | | Median£480 | | | | Children's social careDetails | £385 | £337 | | Median£337 | | | | Housing (not council homes)Details | £121 | £39 | | Median£39 | | | | Public healthDetails | £114 | £88 | | Median£88 | | | | Environment and regulationDetails | £90 | £93 | | Median£93 | | | | Parks, leisure, libraries and cultureDetails | £83 | £49 | | Median£49 | | | | Planning and developmentDetails | £46 | £28 | | Median£28 | | | | Running the councilDetails | £40 | £60 | | Median£60 | | | | Roads and transportDetails | £20 | £29 | | Median£29 | | | | Other servicesDetails | £0.27 | £0.52 | | Median£0.52 | | | - Liverpool spent **33.6%** of its gross service spending on its own staff in 2025-26 (median for metropolitan borough councils: 34.4%); the rest went on suppliers, contractors, grants, benefits and other running costs. - Its published payments of £500 or more came to **£850.2m** between 2025-07 and 2026-06. 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 **8.6%** of its staff costs (median among the 3 other metropolitan borough councils whose £500 data is read: 9.6%). The two come from different sources and periods, so this is a guide to scale, not an exact share. ## 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 Liverpool](/council-tax/england/liverpool/) and [everything else about Liverpool](/your-area/liverpool/). ## Common questions What does council tax pay for in Liverpool? A Band D bill of £2,673.59 is split between Liverpool, Liverpool: adult social care precept, this year's increase, Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority, The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. In proportion to spending, the largest line is adult social care, £810.70.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 Liverpool](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/parking/liverpool/) - [Back to Liverpool: your area](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/your-area/liverpool/) - [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.