# Where your council tax goes in Luton url: https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/council-tax/england/luton/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 Luton Last updated 29 September 2026. Figures refresh every night. [How each figure is worked out](/methodology/). A Band D council tax bill in **Luton** is **£2,439.93** for 2026-27, split between Luton £1,981.21, Luton: adult social care precept, this year's increase £38.41, Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable £297.59, Bedfordshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority £122.72. Shared out in proportion to what each body spends, the largest single line is adult social care at Luton: **£584.61** of the bill. Council tax pays for 16% of the council's own spending; the rest is government grant, business rates and fees. Figures for the 2026–27 financial year. Source: [Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government](https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/council-tax-statistics). ## Key figures - £2,439.93Band D bill, 2026-27 As of 6 April 2026 - £1,981.21Goes to Luton itself (81%) As of 6 April 2026 - £584.61Largest line: adult social care As of 28 September 2026 - 15.9%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. 1981.21 38.41 297.59 122.72 Luton 81%Luton: adult social care precept, this year's increase 2%Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable 12%Bedfordshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority 5% ## And where does that bit go? Choose any part of the bill to see how it divides, then keep going as far as the published returns allow. Every level has its own link you can share. ### Where the rest comes from **Council tax pays for 15.9%** of the money Luton had to spend in 2025-26. ********** - Council tax 15.9% £110.3m - Business rates 9.4% £65.2m - General government grant 2.0% £13.8m - Government grants for specific services 51.7% £357.9m - Fees, charges and other income 21.0% £145.2m It also put £4.8m 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: £2,439.93 - [Luton](#d-council) £1,981.21 ** Your council · 81.2% of the bill - [Luton: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) £38.41 ** Adult social care precept · 1.6% of the bill - [Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable](#d-police) £297.59 ** Police · 12.2% of the bill - [Bedfordshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority](#d-fire) £122.72 ** Fire and rescue · 5.0% of the bill - [Your bill](#d-bill) - Luton ### Luton £1,981.21 of your bill goes to Luton. It is shared out below in proportion to how Luton spent its money in 2025-26, its latest published return. - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) £584.61 ** 29.5% of this part · £91.2m in 2025-26 · £386 per resident; similar councils £454 · up 4.4% on 2024-25 - [Children's social care](#d-council~childrens-social-care) £507.58 ** 25.6% of this part · £79.2m in 2025-26 · £335 per resident; similar councils £317 · up 12.7% on 2024-25 - [Education](#d-council~education) £297.74 ** 15.0% of this part · £234.9m in 2025-26 · £994 per resident; similar councils £670 · up 10.9% on 2024-25 - [Environment and regulation](#d-council~environment) £156.34 ** 7.9% of this part · £24.4m in 2025-26 · £103 per resident; similar councils £91 · down 0.6% on 2024-25 - [Housing (not council homes)](#d-council~housing) £139.18 ** 7.0% of this part · £21.7m in 2025-26 · £92 per resident; similar councils £31 · up 36.1% on 2024-25 Not council homes: [see the note](#d-council~housing). - [Running the council](#d-council~central) £102.94 ** 5.2% of this part · £16.1m in 2025-26 · £68 per resident; similar councils £46 · down 2.4% on 2024-25 - [Roads and transport](#d-council~highways-transport) £97.47 ** 4.9% of this part · £15.2m in 2025-26 · £64 per resident; similar councils £38 · up 5.5% on 2024-25 - [Parks, leisure, libraries and culture](#d-council~culture-leisure) £49.91 ** 2.5% of this part · £7.8m in 2025-26 · £33 per resident; similar councils £54 · up 37.3% on 2024-25 - [Planning and development](#d-council~planning-development) £35.72 ** 1.8% of this part · £5.6m in 2025-26 · £24 per resident; similar councils £16 · no change on 2024-25 - [Public health](#d-council~public-health) £9.71 ** 0.5% of this part · £20.0m in 2025-26 · £85 per resident; similar councils £66 · down 7.9% on 2024-25 Before sharing out your bill, the part of education paid for by the Dedicated Schools Grant (£188.5m) and public health paid for by the public health grant (£18.5m) is taken off, because council tax does not pay for it. **Which councils count as similar** Medians are across the 10 unitary councils in England closest in population: Westmorland and Furness, Swindon, North Somerset, Peterborough, Southampton, Warrington, Portsmouth, York, Stockton-on-Tees, Plymouth. Per-resident figures use ONS mid-year population estimates. - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Luton](#d-council) - Adult social care ### Adult social care £584.61 of your bill goes to adult social care at Luton. Here is how its £91.2m of net spending on it divides in the return. - [Physical support](#d-council~adult-social-care.physical) £188.72 ** 32.3% of this · £29.4m in 2025-26 · £125 per resident; similar councils £133 · up 19.5% on 2024-25 - [Learning disability support](#d-council~adult-social-care.learning-disability) £173.96 ** 29.8% of this · £27.1m in 2025-26 · £115 per resident; similar councils £152 · up 5.1% on 2024-25 - [Mental health support](#d-council~adult-social-care.mental-health) £61.04 ** 10.4% of this · £9.5m in 2025-26 · £40 per resident; similar councils £41 · down 13.9% on 2024-25 - [Support with memory and cognition](#d-council~adult-social-care.memory) £55.21 ** 9.4% of this · £8.6m in 2025-26 · £36 per resident; similar councils £35 · down 21.8% on 2024-25 - Care assessment and safeguarding £52.49 ** 9.0% of this · £8.2m in 2025-26 · £35 per resident; similar councils £39 · down 23.6% on 2024-25 - Commissioning, strategy and administration £37.26 ** 6.4% of this · £5.8m in 2025-26 · £25 per resident; similar councils £13 · up 196.0% on 2024-25 - Social support (carers, substance misuse, isolation, asylum) £12.11 ** 2.1% of this · £1.9m in 2025-26 · £8.00 per resident; similar councils £7.22 · up 14.8% on 2024-25 - Information and early intervention £1.84 ** 0.3% of this · £287k in 2025-26 · £1.21 per resident; similar councils £4.86 · up 6.7% on 2024-25 - [Sensory support](#d-council~adult-social-care.sensory) £1.34 ** 0.2% of this · £209k in 2025-26 · £0.88 per resident; similar councils £2.76 · up 14.8% on 2024-25 - Assistive equipment and technology £0.64 ** 0.1% of this · £100k in 2025-26 · £0.42 per resident; similar councils £4.97 · up 222.6% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Luton](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Physical support ### Physical support £188.72 of your bill goes to physical support at Luton. Here is how its £29.4m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £122.99 ** 65.2% of this · £19.2m in 2025-26 · £81 per resident; similar councils £98 · up 32.6% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £65.73 ** 34.8% of this · £10.3m in 2025-26 · £43 per resident; similar councils £38 · up 0.8% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Luton](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Learning disability support ### Learning disability support £173.96 of your bill goes to learning disability support at Luton. Here is how its £27.1m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £171.00 ** 98.3% of this · £26.7m in 2025-26 · £113 per resident; similar councils £143 · up 5.2% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £2.96 ** 1.7% of this · £462k in 2025-26 · £1.95 per resident; similar councils £16 · no change on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Luton](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Mental health support ### Mental health support £61.04 of your bill goes to mental health support at Luton. Here is how its £9.5m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £48.69 ** 79.8% of this · £7.6m in 2025-26 · £32 per resident; similar councils £25 · down 2.8% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £12.35 ** 20.2% of this · £1.9m in 2025-26 · £8.15 per resident; similar councils £14 · down 40.6% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Luton](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Support with memory and cognition ### Support with memory and cognition £55.21 of your bill goes to support with memory and cognition at Luton. Here is how its £8.6m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £49.16 ** 89.0% of this · £7.7m in 2025-26 · £32 per resident; similar councils £31 · down 24.6% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £6.05 ** 11.0% of this · £944k in 2025-26 · £3.99 per resident; similar councils £2.82 · up 10.9% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Luton](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Sensory support ### Sensory support £1.34 of your bill goes to sensory support at Luton. Here is how its £209k of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £1.08 ** 80.9% of this · £169k in 2025-26 · £0.71 per resident; similar councils £1.14 · up 25.2% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £0.26 ** 19.1% of this · £40k in 2025-26 · £0.17 per resident; similar councils £1.72 · down 14.9% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Luton](#d-council) - Children's social care ### Children's social care £507.58 of your bill goes to children's social care at Luton. Here is how its £79.2m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Children looked after £246.13 ** 48.5% of this · £38.4m in 2025-26 · £162 per resident; similar councils £166 · up 10.7% on 2024-25 - Safeguarding and social work £179.37 ** 35.3% of this · £28.0m in 2025-26 · £118 per resident; similar councils £64 · up 30.7% on 2024-25 - Family support £43.86 ** 8.6% of this · £6.8m in 2025-26 · £29 per resident; similar councils £30 · up 4.0% on 2024-25 - Youth justice £19.79 ** 3.9% of this · £3.1m in 2025-26 · £13 per resident; similar councils £5.32 · down 4.5% on 2024-25 - Other children's and families' services £13.35 ** 2.6% of this · £2.1m in 2025-26 · £8.81 per resident; similar councils £2.23 · up 21.0% on 2024-25 - Services for young people £3.16 ** 0.6% of this · £493k in 2025-26 · £2.09 per resident; similar councils £3.15 · up 42.9% on 2024-25 - Children's centres and early years £1.92 ** 0.4% of this · £300k in 2025-26 · £1.27 per resident; similar councils £8.82 · down 86.8% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Luton](#d-council) - Education ### Education £297.74 of your bill goes to education at Luton. Here is how its £234.9m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Primary schools £149.13 ** 50.1% of this · £117.7m in 2025-26 · £498 per resident; similar councils £183 · up 6.2% on 2024-25 - Early years and nursery £44.70 ** 15.0% of this · £35.3m in 2025-26 · £149 per resident; similar councils £155 · up 44.1% on 2024-25 - Special schools and alternative provision £43.73 ** 14.7% of this · £34.5m in 2025-26 · £146 per resident; similar councils £108 · up 10.5% on 2024-25 - Secondary schools £29.29 ** 9.8% of this · £23.1m in 2025-26 · £98 per resident; similar councils £86 · up 8.3% on 2024-25 - Other education £26.83 ** 9.0% of this · £21.2m in 2025-26 · £90 per resident; similar councils £89 · down 0.3% on 2024-25 - Post-16 £4.06 ** 1.4% of this · £3.2m in 2025-26 · £14 per resident; similar councils £18 · up 20.8% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Luton](#d-council) - Environment and regulation ### Environment and regulation £156.34 of your bill goes to environment and regulation at Luton. Here is how its £24.4m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Waste disposal £71.58 ** 45.8% of this · £11.6m in 2025-26 · £49 per resident; similar councils £37 · down 6.7% on 2024-25 - Street cleaning £24.42 ** 15.6% of this · £4.0m in 2025-26 · £17 per resident; similar councils £11 · up 5.5% on 2024-25 - Waste collection £20.79 ** 13.3% of this · £3.4m in 2025-26 · £14 per resident; similar councils £27 · up 8.0% on 2024-25 - Environmental health, food safety, pest control and licensing £14.18 ** 9.1% of this · £2.3m in 2025-26 · £9.70 per resident; similar councils £5.94 · up 4.4% on 2024-25 - Recycling and waste minimisation £12.71 ** 8.1% of this · £2.1m in 2025-26 · £8.69 per resident; similar councils £9.69 · down 17.6% on 2024-25 - Community safety and CCTV £8.15 ** 5.2% of this · £1.3m in 2025-26 · £5.58 per resident; similar councils £7.10 · up 14.3% on 2024-25 - Flood defence, land drainage and coast protection £2.23 ** 1.4% of this · £361k in 2025-26 · £1.53 per resident; similar councils £1.75 · up 56.3% on 2024-25 - Trading standards £2.06 ** 1.3% of this · £334k in 2025-26 · £1.41 per resident; similar councils £2.28 · up 1.8% on 2024-25 - Public toilets £0.22 ** 0.1% of this · £35k in 2025-26 · £0.15 per resident; similar councils £0.25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Luton](#d-council) - Housing (not council homes) ### Housing (not council homes) £139.18 of your bill goes to housing (not council homes) at Luton. Here is how its £21.7m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Homelessness and temporary accommodation £114.70 ** 82.4% of this · £17.9m in 2025-26 · £76 per resident; similar councils £18 · up 28.5% on 2024-25 - Housing benefit administration and discretionary payments £9.90 ** 7.1% of this · £1.5m in 2025-26 · £6.53 per resident; similar councils £4.75 - Supporting People and welfare services £9.17 ** 6.6% of this · £1.4m in 2025-26 · £6.05 per resident; similar councils £3.74 · up 3.8% on 2024-25 - Private sector housing renewal £2.71 ** 1.9% of this · £423k in 2025-26 · £1.79 per resident; similar councils £0.48 · up 19.8% on 2024-25 - Other General Fund housing £1.47 ** 1.1% of this · £230k in 2025-26 · £0.97 per resident; similar councils £0.23 · up 4.1% on 2024-25 - Housing strategy, advice and enabling £1.24 ** 0.9% of this · £193k in 2025-26 · £0.82 per resident; similar councils £1.20 · up 75.5% 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. Luton's Housing Revenue Account took in £60.9m and spent £62.6m in 2025-26. [What council tax does and doesn't pay for](/what-council-tax-pays-for/#ring-fence). - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Luton](#d-council) - Running the council ### Running the council £102.94 of your bill goes to running the council at Luton. Here is how its £16.1m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Corporate and democratic core £42.13 ** 40.9% of this · £6.6m in 2025-26 · £28 per resident; similar councils £26 · up 86.7% on 2024-25 - Non-distributed costs (past pensions, unused assets) £22.70 ** 22.1% of this · £3.6m in 2025-26 · £15 per resident; similar councils £2.72 · down 0.3% on 2024-25 - Local welfare assistance £18.95 ** 18.4% of this · £3.0m in 2025-26 · £13 per resident; similar councils £0.98 · down 23.6% on 2024-25 - Collecting council tax and business rates £11.14 ** 10.8% of this · £1.7m in 2025-26 · £7.39 per resident; similar councils £6.57 · down 23.3% on 2024-25 - Elections and electoral registration £3.07 ** 3.0% of this · £481k in 2025-26 · £2.03 per resident; similar councils £1.78 · down 61.4% on 2024-25 - Coroners' and other courts £2.99 ** 2.9% of this · £468k in 2025-26 · £1.98 per resident; similar councils £2.95 · up 14.4% on 2024-25 - Emergency planning £1.66 ** 1.6% of this · £261k in 2025-26 · £1.10 per resident; similar councils £0.78 · up 31.2% on 2024-25 - Registering births, deaths and marriages £0.29 ** 0.3% of this · £46k in 2025-26 · £0.19 per resident; similar councils £-0.65 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Luton](#d-council) - Roads and transport ### Roads and transport £97.47 of your bill goes to roads and transport at Luton. Here is how its £15.2m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Support for bus, rail and other public transport £40.57 ** 41.6% of this · £6.8m in 2025-26 · £29 per resident; similar councils £2.96 · up 9.0% on 2024-25 - [Road and bridge maintenance](#d-council~highways-transport.maintenance) £24.40 ** 25.0% of this · £4.1m in 2025-26 · £17 per resident; similar councils £14 · down 0.8% on 2024-25 - Concessionary bus fares £16.06 ** 16.5% of this · £2.7m in 2025-26 · £11 per resident; similar councils £15 · up 12.0% on 2024-25 - Street lighting (including energy) £9.31 ** 9.6% of this · £1.6m in 2025-26 · £6.56 per resident; similar councils £7.66 · up 4.0% on 2024-25 - Winter service (gritting) £2.68 ** 2.8% of this · £447k in 2025-26 · £1.89 per resident; similar councils £1.99 · up 0.7% on 2024-25 - Transport planning and policy £2.25 ** 2.3% of this · £374k in 2025-26 · £1.58 per resident; similar councils £5.61 · up 5.9% on 2024-25 - Traffic management and road safety £2.20 ** 2.3% of this · £366k in 2025-26 · £1.55 per resident; similar councils £1.49 · down 43.2% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Luton](#d-council) - [Roads and transport](#d-council~highways-transport) - Road and bridge maintenance ### Road and bridge maintenance £24.40 of your bill goes to road and bridge maintenance at Luton. Here is how its £4.1m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Environmental, safety and routine maintenance £20.92 ** 85.7% of this · £3.5m in 2025-26 · £15 per resident; similar councils £8.90 · down 2.1% on 2024-25 - Structural maintenance (resurfacing, bridges) £3.48 ** 14.3% of this · £579k in 2025-26 · £2.45 per resident; similar councils £5.23 · up 7.4% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Luton](#d-council) - Parks, leisure, libraries and culture ### Parks, leisure, libraries and culture £49.91 of your bill goes to parks, leisure, libraries and culture at Luton. Here is how its £7.8m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Sport and leisure £20.86 ** 41.8% of this · £3.3m in 2025-26 · £14 per resident; similar councils £6.44 · up 89.6% on 2024-25 - Parks and open spaces (including play areas) £14.31 ** 28.7% of this · £2.2m in 2025-26 · £9.45 per resident; similar councils £16 · up 4.6% on 2024-25 - Museums, arts, heritage and archives £6.38 ** 12.8% of this · £995k in 2025-26 · £4.21 per resident; similar councils £8.61 · up 56.2% on 2024-25 - Libraries £4.90 ** 9.8% of this · £764k in 2025-26 · £3.23 per resident; similar councils £13 · down 9.3% on 2024-25 - Community centres and public halls £3.47 ** 6.9% of this · £541k in 2025-26 · £2.29 per resident; similar councils £0.54 · up 57.3% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Luton](#d-council) - Planning and development ### Planning and development £35.72 of your bill goes to planning and development at Luton. Here is how its £5.6m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Community development £11.66 ** 32.6% of this · £1.8m in 2025-26 · £7.70 per resident; similar councils £4.61 · up 16.4% on 2024-25 - Economic development and business support £11.58 ** 32.4% of this · £1.8m in 2025-26 · £7.64 per resident; similar councils £3.22 · down 28.2% on 2024-25 - Planning policy £4.79 ** 13.4% of this · £747k in 2025-26 · £3.16 per resident; similar councils £4.05 · up 25.5% on 2024-25 - Environmental initiatives £3.74 ** 10.5% of this · £584k in 2025-26 · £2.47 per resident; similar councils £0.45 · up 128.1% on 2024-25 - Planning applications (development management) £2.68 ** 7.5% of this · £418k in 2025-26 · £1.77 per resident; similar councils £3.20 · up 19.8% on 2024-25 - Building control £1.27 ** 3.6% of this · £198k in 2025-26 · £0.84 per resident; similar councils £0.77 · down 32.4% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Luton](#d-council) - Public health ### Public health £9.71 of your bill goes to public health at Luton. Here is how its £20.0m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Health visiting and children's 0-5 services £2.83 ** 29.1% of this · £5.8m in 2025-26 · £25 per resident; similar councils £17 · down 19.7% on 2024-25 - Drug and alcohol services £2.73 ** 28.1% of this · £5.6m in 2025-26 · £24 per resident; similar councils £16 · down 8.7% on 2024-25 - Sexual health £1.35 ** 13.9% of this · £2.8m in 2025-26 · £12 per resident; similar councils £11 · up 1.6% on 2024-25 - Obesity and physical activity £0.71 ** 7.3% of this · £1.5m in 2025-26 · £6.19 per resident; similar councils £2.36 · up 20.0% on 2024-25 - Stop smoking and tobacco control £0.62 ** 6.4% of this · £1.3m in 2025-26 · £5.43 per resident; similar councils £2.72 · up 34.2% on 2024-25 - Other public health £0.60 ** 6.2% of this · £1.2m in 2025-26 · £5.26 per resident; similar councils £6.95 · down 28.9% on 2024-25 - Children's 5-19 programmes £0.47 ** 4.8% of this · £959k in 2025-26 · £4.06 per resident; similar councils £3.77 · up 4.9% on 2024-25 - Public mental health £0.23 ** 2.3% of this · £467k in 2025-26 · £1.98 per resident; similar councils £1.06 · down 5.1% on 2024-25 - NHS health checks and health protection £0.17 ** 1.8% of this · £359k in 2025-26 · £1.52 per resident; similar councils £3.89 · up 46.5% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - Luton: adult social care precept, this year's increase ### Luton: adult social care precept, this year's increase £38.41 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 Luton's adult social care spending of £91.2m 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) £12.40 ** 32.3% of this precept · £29.4m in 2025-26 · £125 per resident; similar councils £133 · up 19.5% on 2024-25 - [Learning disability support](#d-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.learning-disability) £11.43 ** 29.8% of this precept · £27.1m in 2025-26 · £115 per resident; similar councils £152 · up 5.1% on 2024-25 - [Mental health support](#d-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.mental-health) £4.01 ** 10.4% of this precept · £9.5m in 2025-26 · £40 per resident; similar councils £41 · down 13.9% on 2024-25 - [Support with memory and cognition](#d-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.memory) £3.63 ** 9.4% of this precept · £8.6m in 2025-26 · £36 per resident; similar councils £35 · down 21.8% on 2024-25 - Care assessment and safeguarding £3.45 ** 9.0% of this precept · £8.2m in 2025-26 · £35 per resident; similar councils £39 · down 23.6% on 2024-25 - Commissioning, strategy and administration £2.45 ** 6.4% of this precept · £5.8m in 2025-26 · £25 per resident; similar councils £13 · up 196.0% on 2024-25 - Social support (carers, substance misuse, isolation, asylum) £0.80 ** 2.1% of this precept · £1.9m in 2025-26 · £8.00 per resident; similar councils £7.22 · up 14.8% on 2024-25 - Information and early intervention £0.12 ** 0.3% of this precept · £287k in 2025-26 · £1.21 per resident; similar councils £4.86 · up 6.7% on 2024-25 - [Sensory support](#d-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.sensory) £0.09 ** 0.2% of this precept · £209k in 2025-26 · £0.88 per resident; similar councils £2.76 · up 14.8% on 2024-25 - Assistive equipment and technology £0.04 ** 0.1% of this precept · £100k in 2025-26 · £0.42 per resident; similar councils £4.97 · up 222.6% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Luton: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Physical support ### Physical support £12.40 of your bill goes to physical support at Luton. Here is how its £29.4m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £8.08 ** 65.2% of this · £19.2m in 2025-26 · £81 per resident; similar councils £98 · up 32.6% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £4.32 ** 34.8% of this · £10.3m in 2025-26 · £43 per resident; similar councils £38 · up 0.8% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Luton: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Learning disability support ### Learning disability support £11.43 of your bill goes to learning disability support at Luton. Here is how its £27.1m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £11.23 ** 98.3% of this · £26.7m in 2025-26 · £113 per resident; similar councils £143 · up 5.2% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £0.19 ** 1.7% of this · £462k in 2025-26 · £1.95 per resident; similar councils £16 · no change on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Luton: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Mental health support ### Mental health support £4.01 of your bill goes to mental health support at Luton. Here is how its £9.5m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £3.20 ** 79.8% of this · £7.6m in 2025-26 · £32 per resident; similar councils £25 · down 2.8% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £0.81 ** 20.2% of this · £1.9m in 2025-26 · £8.15 per resident; similar councils £14 · down 40.6% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Luton: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Support with memory and cognition ### Support with memory and cognition £3.63 of your bill goes to support with memory and cognition at Luton. Here is how its £8.6m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £3.23 ** 89.0% of this · £7.7m in 2025-26 · £32 per resident; similar councils £31 · down 24.6% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £0.40 ** 11.0% of this · £944k in 2025-26 · £3.99 per resident; similar councils £2.82 · up 10.9% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Luton: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Sensory support ### Sensory support £0.09 of your bill goes to sensory support at Luton. Here is how its £209k of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £0.07 ** 80.9% of this · £169k in 2025-26 · £0.71 per resident; similar councils £1.14 · up 25.2% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £0.02 ** 19.1% of this · £40k in 2025-26 · £0.17 per resident; similar councils £1.72 · down 14.9% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable ### Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable £297.59 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 Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable's adult social care spending of £198.7m 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) - Bedfordshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority ### Bedfordshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority £122.72 of your bill goes to Bedfordshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority. It is shared out below in proportion to how Bedfordshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority spent its money in 2025-26, its latest published return. - [Fire and rescue](#d-fire~fire) £114.23 ** 93.1% of this part · £37.2m in 2025-26 · £49 per resident; similar councils £54 · up 1.9% on 2024-25 - [Running the council](#d-fire~central) £8.49 ** 6.9% of this part · £2.8m in 2025-26 · £3.66 per resident; similar councils £1.12 · up 5.4% on 2024-25 **Which councils count as similar** Medians are across the 10 fire and rescue authorities closest in population: Hereford and Worcester Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, North Wales Fire Authority, Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Fire and Rescue Authority, East Sussex Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, North Yorkshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Durham Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Buckinghamshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Mid and West Wales Fire Authority, Cambridgeshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Cleveland Combined Fire and Rescue Authority. Per-resident figures use ONS mid-year population estimates. - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bedfordshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority](#d-fire) - Fire and rescue ### Fire and rescue £114.23 of your bill goes to fire and rescue at Bedfordshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority. Here is how its £37.2m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Firefighting and rescue £100.55 ** 88.0% of this · £32.7m in 2025-26 · £43 per resident; similar councils £40 · up 1.4% on 2024-25 - Community fire safety £12.05 ** 10.6% of this · £3.9m in 2025-26 · £5.20 per resident; similar councils £3.85 · up 4.8% on 2024-25 - Fire emergency planning £1.63 ** 1.4% of this · £530k in 2025-26 · £0.70 per resident; similar councils £0.00 · up 8.8% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bedfordshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority](#d-fire) - Running the council ### Running the council £8.49 of your bill goes to running the council at Bedfordshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority. Here is how its £2.8m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Corporate and democratic core £5.30 ** 62.5% of this · £1.7m in 2025-26 · £2.29 per resident; similar councils £1.05 · up 9.4% on 2024-25 - Non-distributed costs (past pensions, unused assets) £3.19 ** 37.5% of this · £1.0m in 2025-26 · £1.37 per resident; similar councils £0.00 · down 0.6% on 2024-25 ## Parks, street cleaning and roads here What Luton 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 | £2.2m | £9.45 | £16 | — | up 4.6% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£9.45Similar councils, per resident£16Per mile of road—Changeup 4.6% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Street cleaningDetails | £4.0m | £17 | £11 | £13,621 (similar: £3,881) | up 5.5% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£17Similar councils, per resident£11Per mile of road£13,621 (similar: £3,881)Changeup 5.5% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Road and bridge maintenanceDetails | £4.1m | £17 | £14 | £14,010 (similar: £5,357) | down 0.8% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£17Similar councils, per resident£14Per mile of road£14,010 (similar: £5,357)Changedown 0.8% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Environmental, safety and routine maintenanceDetails | £3.5m | £15 | £8.90 | £12,014 (similar: £3,672) | down 2.1% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£15Similar councils, per resident£8.90Per mile of road£12,014 (similar: £3,672)Changedown 2.1% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Structural maintenance (resurfacing, bridges)Details | £579k | £2.45 | £5.23 | £1,997 (similar: £1,464) | up 7.4% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£2.45Similar councils, per resident£5.23Per mile of road£1,997 (similar: £1,464)Changeup 7.4% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Winter service (gritting)Details | £447k | £1.89 | £2.33 | £1,541 (similar: £811) | up 0.7% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£1.89Similar councils, per resident£2.33Per mile of road£1,541 (similar: £811)Changeup 0.7% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Street lighting (including energy)Details | £1.6m | £6.56 | £7.66 | £5,345 (similar: £3,286) | up 4.0% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£6.56Similar councils, per resident£7.66Per mile of road£5,345 (similar: £3,286)Changeup 4.0% 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 | | --- | --- | --- | | EducationDetails | £994 | £712 | | Median£712 | | | | Adult social careDetails | £386 | £483 | | Median£483 | | | | Children's social careDetails | £335 | £300 | | Median£300 | | | | Environment and regulationDetails | £103 | £111 | | Median£111 | | | | Housing (not council homes)Details | £92 | £33 | | Median£33 | | | | Public healthDetails | £85 | £64 | | Median£64 | | | | Running the councilDetails | £68 | £51 | | Median£51 | | | | Roads and transportDetails | £64 | £49 | | Median£49 | | | | Parks, leisure, libraries and cultureDetails | £33 | £38 | | Median£38 | | | | Planning and developmentDetails | £24 | £21 | | Median£21 | | | - Luton spent **39.6%** of its gross service spending on its own staff in 2025-26 (median for unitary councils in England: 31.1%); the rest went on suppliers, contractors, grants, benefits and other running costs. ## What this data does and doesn't show - These are each body's own figures, as reported to government in its revenue outturn return. Net spending is after the fees, charges and grants a service brings in. - Your bill is for 2026-27; it is shared out using the latest published return, which covers an earlier year. The mix of spending changes little from one year to the next, but it does change. - Council tax is not ring-fenced: this shows your bill in proportion to spending, not what your money bought. Where a precept is set aside for adult social care, it is shown against adult social care. - No council publishes spending at street or property level, so nothing here says what was spent near you. - Sub-service lines are the ones the national returns itemise. Councils describe their own budgets differently; their budget books and statements of accounts have more detail. ## Sources - Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, [Council Tax levels set by local authorities in England: Table 10, local authority level data](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a02eeeccd2e0e8b5b20b449/Table_10_2026-27.ods), published 25 March 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. - Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, [Local authority revenue expenditure and financing: Revenue Outturn multi-year data set](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6ab26ffffe72ed1e2b02ee74/Revenue_Outturn_time_series_data_v4.csv), published 28 September 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. How the split is worked out, and how the three nations' returns are matched to one list of services, is on the [methodology page](/methodology/#council-spending). The dataset is on the [data page](/data/#council-spending). See also [council tax in Luton](/council-tax/england/luton/) and [everything else about Luton](/your-area/luton/). ## Common questions What does council tax pay for in Luton? A Band D bill of £2,439.93 is split between Luton, Luton: adult social care precept, this year's increase, Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable, Bedfordshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority. In proportion to spending, the largest line is adult social care, £584.61.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 Luton UA](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/parking/luton-ua/) - [Back to Luton: your area](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/your-area/luton/) - [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.