# Where your council tax goes in Somerset url: https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/council-tax/england/somerset/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 Somerset Last updated 29 September 2026. Figures refresh every night. [How each figure is worked out](/methodology/). A Band D council tax bill in **Somerset** is **£2,560.59** for 2026-27, split between Somerset £1,913.74, Somerset: adult social care precept, this year's increase £37.15, Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable £308.20, Devon and Somerset Combined Fire and Rescue Authority £109.68, Parish and town councils (average for the area) £191.82. Shared out in proportion to what each body spends, the largest single line is adult social care at Somerset: **£732.40** of the bill. Council tax pays for 28% 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 - £2,560.59Band D bill, 2026-27 As of 6 April 2026 - £1,913.74Goes to Somerset itself (75%) As of 6 April 2026 - £732.40Largest line: adult social care As of 28 September 2026 - 28.1%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. 1913.74 37.15 308.20 109.68 191.82 Somerset 75%Somerset: adult social care precept, this year's increase 1%Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable 12%Devon and Somerset Combined Fire and Rescue Authority 4%Parish and town councils (average for the area) 7% Parish precepts differ from parish to parish; this is the average across the area, and a home outside any parish pays none. ## And where does that bit go? Choose any part of the bill to see how it divides, then keep going as far as the published returns allow. Every level has its own link you can share. ### Where the rest comes from **Council tax pays for 28.1%** of the money Somerset had to spend in 2025-26. ********** - Council tax 28.1% £394.9m - Business rates 9.3% £130.9m - General government grant 0.7% £9.8m - Government grants for specific services 39.8% £559.4m - Fees, charges and other income 22.0% £309.0m It also put £36.9m into its reserves that year. Council tax is pooled with the council's other money, not ring-fenced for any service. The split on this page shares your bill out in proportion to what each body spends; it does not say what any one pound paid for. - Your bill ### Your bill: £2,560.59 - [Somerset](#d-council) £1,913.74 ** Your council · 74.7% of the bill - [Somerset: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) £37.15 ** Adult social care precept · 1.5% of the bill - [Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable](#d-police) £308.20 ** Police · 12.0% of the bill - [Devon and Somerset Combined Fire and Rescue Authority](#d-fire) £109.68 ** Fire and rescue · 4.3% of the bill - Parish and town councils (average for the area) £191.82 ** Parish or town council · 7.5% of the bill. Parish, town and community councils do not file spending returns with the government, so there is no national breakdown. Each publishes its own annual accounts. - [Your bill](#d-bill) - Somerset ### Somerset £1,913.74 of your bill goes to Somerset. It is shared out below in proportion to how Somerset spent its money in 2025-26, its latest published return. - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) £732.40 ** 38.3% of this part · £286.8m in 2025-26 · £485 per resident; similar councils £484 · down 0.4% on 2024-25 - [Children's social care](#d-council~childrens-social-care) £408.24 ** 21.3% of this part · £159.9m in 2025-26 · £271 per resident; similar councils £262 · up 8.2% on 2024-25 - [Education](#d-council~education) £297.63 ** 15.6% of this part · £379.9m in 2025-26 · £643 per resident; similar councils £712 · up 12.4% on 2024-25 - [Environment and regulation](#d-council~environment) £191.64 ** 10.0% of this part · £75.0m in 2025-26 · £127 per resident; similar councils £113 · up 5.0% on 2024-25 - [Roads and transport](#d-council~highways-transport) £65.67 ** 3.4% of this part · £25.7m in 2025-26 · £44 per resident; similar councils £51 · down 22.1% on 2024-25 - [Running the council](#d-council~central) £64.95 ** 3.4% of this part · £25.4m in 2025-26 · £43 per resident; similar councils £46 · down 12.6% on 2024-25 - [Housing (not council homes)](#d-council~housing) £49.45 ** 2.6% of this part · £19.4m in 2025-26 · £33 per resident; similar councils £38 · down 14.4% on 2024-25 Not council homes: [see the note](#d-council~housing). - [Planning and development](#d-council~planning-development) £42.57 ** 2.2% of this part · £16.7m in 2025-26 · £28 per resident; similar councils £29 · down 30.9% on 2024-25 - [Parks, leisure, libraries and culture](#d-council~culture-leisure) £36.15 ** 1.9% of this part · £14.2m in 2025-26 · £24 per resident; similar councils £41 · down 29.9% on 2024-25 - Other services £21.40 ** 1.1% of this part · £8.4m in 2025-26 · £14 per resident; similar councils £0.00 · up 4.1% on 2024-25 - [Public health](#d-council~public-health) £3.64 ** 0.2% of this part · £25.9m in 2025-26 · £44 per resident; similar councils £51 · down 6.7% on 2024-25 Before sharing out your bill, the part of education paid for by the Dedicated Schools Grant (£263.4m) and public health paid for by the public health grant (£24.4m) is taken off, because council tax does not pay for it. **Which councils count as similar** Medians are across the 10 unitary councils in England closest in population: Cornwall, Buckinghamshire, North Yorkshire, Durham, Wiltshire, Bristol, West Northamptonshire, Cheshire East, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, Dorset. Per-resident figures use ONS mid-year population estimates. - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Somerset](#d-council) - Adult social care ### Adult social care £732.40 of your bill goes to adult social care at Somerset. Here is how its £286.8m of net spending on it divides in the return. - [Physical support](#d-council~adult-social-care.physical) £344.66 ** 47.1% of this · £136.1m in 2025-26 · £230 per resident; similar councils £152 · up 10.6% on 2024-25 - [Learning disability support](#d-council~adult-social-care.learning-disability) £244.04 ** 33.3% of this · £96.4m in 2025-26 · £163 per resident; similar councils £152 · down 3.5% on 2024-25 - [Mental health support](#d-council~adult-social-care.mental-health) £79.21 ** 10.8% of this · £31.3m in 2025-26 · £53 per resident; similar councils £39 · down 6.4% on 2024-25 - Care assessment and safeguarding £55.61 ** 7.6% of this · £22.0m in 2025-26 · £37 per resident; similar councils £39 · up 25.3% on 2024-25 - Assistive equipment and technology £7.53 ** 1.0% of this · £3.0m in 2025-26 · £5.03 per resident; similar councils £2.22 · down 22.9% on 2024-25 - Social support (carers, substance misuse, isolation, asylum) £0.80 ** 0.1% of this · £314k in 2025-26 · £0.53 per resident; similar councils £6.90 · down 28.3% on 2024-25 - [Sensory support](#d-council~adult-social-care.sensory) £0.55 ** under 0.1% of this · £219k in 2025-26 · £0.37 per resident; similar councils £3.12 · down 94.8% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Somerset](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Physical support ### Physical support £344.66 of your bill goes to physical support at Somerset. Here is how its £136.1m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £282.62 ** 82.0% of this · £111.6m in 2025-26 · £189 per resident; similar councils £114 · up 19.3% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £62.04 ** 18.0% of this · £24.5m in 2025-26 · £41 per resident; similar councils £34 · down 17.1% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Somerset](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Learning disability support ### Learning disability support £244.04 of your bill goes to learning disability support at Somerset. Here is how its £96.4m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £219.63 ** 90.0% of this · £86.7m in 2025-26 · £147 per resident; similar councils £137 · down 2.4% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £24.40 ** 10.0% of this · £9.6m in 2025-26 · £16 per resident; similar councils £18 · down 12.2% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Somerset](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Mental health support ### Mental health support £79.21 of your bill goes to mental health support at Somerset. Here is how its £31.3m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £40.40 ** 51.0% of this · £16.0m in 2025-26 · £27 per resident; similar councils £25 · down 9.9% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £38.81 ** 49.0% of this · £15.3m in 2025-26 · £26 per resident; similar councils £14 · down 2.4% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Somerset](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Sensory support ### Sensory support £0.55 of your bill goes to sensory support at Somerset. Here is how its £219k of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £0.40 ** 72.1% of this · £158k in 2025-26 · £0.27 per resident; similar councils £0.94 · down 91.7% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £0.15 ** 27.9% of this · £61k in 2025-26 · £0.10 per resident; similar councils £1.67 · down 97.4% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Somerset](#d-council) - Children's social care ### Children's social care £408.24 of your bill goes to children's social care at Somerset. Here is how its £159.9m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Children looked after £283.10 ** 69.3% of this · £111.1m in 2025-26 · £188 per resident; similar councils £155 · up 21.4% on 2024-25 - Safeguarding and social work £79.22 ** 19.4% of this · £31.1m in 2025-26 · £53 per resident; similar councils £56 · down 16.4% on 2024-25 - Family support £38.87 ** 9.5% of this · £15.3m in 2025-26 · £26 per resident; similar councils £33 · down 11.1% on 2024-25 - Youth justice £3.50 ** 0.9% of this · £1.4m in 2025-26 · £2.33 per resident; similar councils £2.24 · down 18.2% on 2024-25 - Other children's and families' services £1.63 ** 0.4% of this · £641k in 2025-26 · £1.08 per resident; similar councils £0.25 - Services for young people £1.13 ** 0.3% of this · £443k in 2025-26 · £0.75 per resident; similar councils £5.41 · down 29.3% on 2024-25 - Children's centres and early years £0.78 ** 0.2% of this · £307k in 2025-26 · £0.52 per resident; similar councils £2.08 · down 1.3% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Somerset](#d-council) - Education ### Education £297.63 of your bill goes to education at Somerset. Here is how its £379.9m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Special schools and alternative provision £89.37 ** 30.0% of this · £114.1m in 2025-26 · £193 per resident; similar councils £142 · up 36.5% on 2024-25 - Primary schools £87.08 ** 29.3% of this · £111.2m in 2025-26 · £188 per resident; similar councils £226 · down 11.9% on 2024-25 - Early years and nursery £70.18 ** 23.6% of this · £89.6m in 2025-26 · £152 per resident; similar councils £143 · up 39.3% on 2024-25 - Other education £30.99 ** 10.4% of this · £39.6m in 2025-26 · £67 per resident; similar councils £100 · up 6.7% on 2024-25 - Secondary schools £12.43 ** 4.2% of this · £15.9m in 2025-26 · £27 per resident; similar councils £87 · down 23.4% on 2024-25 - Post-16 £7.58 ** 2.5% of this · £9.7m in 2025-26 · £16 per resident; similar councils £22 · up 56.2% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Somerset](#d-council) - Environment and regulation ### Environment and regulation £191.64 of your bill goes to environment and regulation at Somerset. Here is how its £75.0m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Waste disposal £76.62 ** 40.0% of this · £30.5m in 2025-26 · £52 per resident; similar councils £47 · up 10.2% on 2024-25 - Waste collection £60.84 ** 31.7% of this · £24.2m in 2025-26 · £41 per resident; similar councils £27 · up 35.7% on 2024-25 - Flood defence, land drainage and coast protection £15.90 ** 8.3% of this · £6.3m in 2025-26 · £11 per resident; similar councils £1.83 · up 10.8% on 2024-25 - Recycling and waste minimisation £13.09 ** 6.8% of this · £5.2m in 2025-26 · £8.82 per resident; similar councils £11 · down 17.2% on 2024-25 - Street cleaning £10.42 ** 5.4% of this · £4.2m in 2025-26 · £7.02 per resident; similar councils £11 · down 31.7% on 2024-25 - Environmental health, food safety, pest control and licensing £6.39 ** 3.3% of this · £2.5m in 2025-26 · £4.30 per resident; similar councils £7.10 · down 40.5% on 2024-25 - Community safety and CCTV £4.69 ** 2.4% of this · £1.9m in 2025-26 · £3.16 per resident; similar councils £6.83 · down 18.4% on 2024-25 - Trading standards £3.03 ** 1.6% of this · £1.2m in 2025-26 · £2.04 per resident; similar councils £2.09 · down 38.0% on 2024-25 - Public toilets £0.36 ** 0.2% of this · £142k in 2025-26 · £0.24 per resident; similar councils £0.24 · down 41.3% on 2024-25 - Other environmental services £0.31 ** 0.2% of this · £123k in 2025-26 · £0.21 per resident; similar councils £0.00 · down 63.4% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Somerset](#d-council) - Roads and transport ### Roads and transport £65.67 of your bill goes to roads and transport at Somerset. Here is how its £25.7m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Support for bus, rail and other public transport £20.98 ** 31.9% of this · £10.6m in 2025-26 · £18 per resident; similar councils £14 · up 0.8% on 2024-25 - Road and bridge maintenance £16.56 ** 25.2% of this · £8.4m in 2025-26 · £14 per resident; similar councils £26 · up 10.9% on 2024-25 - Street lighting (including energy) £11.91 ** 18.1% of this · £6.0m in 2025-26 · £10 per resident; similar councils £6.63 · up 0.4% on 2024-25 - Concessionary bus fares £6.62 ** 10.1% of this · £3.4m in 2025-26 · £5.67 per resident; similar councils £9.45 · up 1.5% on 2024-25 - Transport planning and policy £5.07 ** 7.7% of this · £2.6m in 2025-26 · £4.34 per resident; similar councils £2.40 · down 60.8% on 2024-25 - Winter service (gritting) £4.54 ** 6.9% of this · £2.3m in 2025-26 · £3.88 per resident; similar councils £4.01 · up 37.5% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Somerset](#d-council) - Running the council ### Running the council £64.95 of your bill goes to running the council at Somerset. Here is how its £25.4m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Non-distributed costs (past pensions, unused assets) £20.88 ** 32.1% of this · £8.4m in 2025-26 · £14 per resident; similar councils £8.08 · up 10.6% on 2024-25 - Corporate and democratic core £20.06 ** 30.9% of this · £8.1m in 2025-26 · £14 per resident; similar councils £13 · down 12.6% on 2024-25 - Collecting council tax and business rates £15.81 ** 24.3% of this · £6.4m in 2025-26 · £11 per resident; similar councils £7.96 · up 25.4% on 2024-25 - Coroners' and other courts £4.25 ** 6.5% of this · £1.7m in 2025-26 · £2.90 per resident; similar councils £2.44 · up 10.4% on 2024-25 - Elections and electoral registration £3.10 ** 4.8% of this · £1.2m in 2025-26 · £2.11 per resident; similar councils £2.89 · down 67.2% on 2024-25 - Emergency planning £0.85 ** 1.3% of this · £342k in 2025-26 · £0.58 per resident; similar councils £1.00 · down 45.8% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Somerset](#d-council) - Housing (not council homes) ### Housing (not council homes) £49.45 of your bill goes to housing (not council homes) at Somerset. Here is how its £19.4m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Homelessness and temporary accommodation £35.96 ** 72.7% of this · £14.1m in 2025-26 · £24 per resident; similar councils £15 · up 7.6% on 2024-25 - Supporting People and welfare services £7.59 ** 15.3% of this · £3.0m in 2025-26 · £5.03 per resident; similar councils £6.70 · down 41.6% on 2024-25 - Housing benefit administration and discretionary payments £4.24 ** 8.6% of this · £1.7m in 2025-26 · £2.81 per resident; similar councils £5.02 · down 43.6% on 2024-25 - Housing strategy, advice and enabling £1.02 ** 2.1% of this · £401k in 2025-26 · £0.68 per resident; similar councils £6.35 · down 53.9% on 2024-25 - Private sector housing renewal £0.54 ** 1.1% of this · £212k in 2025-26 · £0.36 per resident; similar councils £0.62 · down 62.3% on 2024-25 - Other General Fund housing £0.10 ** 0.2% of this · £39k in 2025-26 · £0.07 per resident; similar councils £0.20 · down 45.8% on 2024-25 **Council homes are not in this.** Council housing is paid for through the Housing Revenue Account, from tenants' rents, and the law keeps it separate from the General Fund that council tax goes into. Somerset's Housing Revenue Account took in £58.3m and spent £57.4m in 2025-26. [What council tax does and doesn't pay for](/what-council-tax-pays-for/#ring-fence). - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Somerset](#d-council) - Planning and development ### Planning and development £42.57 of your bill goes to planning and development at Somerset. Here is how its £16.7m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Economic development and business support £26.56 ** 62.4% of this · £10.7m in 2025-26 · £18 per resident; similar councils £10 · down 19.9% on 2024-25 - Planning policy £8.05 ** 18.9% of this · £3.2m in 2025-26 · £5.47 per resident; similar councils £6.09 · down 12.0% on 2024-25 - Planning applications (development management) £6.02 ** 14.1% of this · £2.4m in 2025-26 · £4.08 per resident; similar councils £3.75 · down 47.4% on 2024-25 - Community development £1.55 ** 3.6% of this · £623k in 2025-26 · £1.05 per resident; similar councils £3.80 · down 70.1% on 2024-25 - Environmental initiatives £0.38 ** 0.9% of this · £153k in 2025-26 · £0.26 per resident; similar councils £1.19 · down 53.4% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Somerset](#d-council) - Parks, leisure, libraries and culture ### Parks, leisure, libraries and culture £36.15 of your bill goes to parks, leisure, libraries and culture at Somerset. Here is how its £14.2m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Parks and open spaces (including play areas) £17.56 ** 48.6% of this · £6.9m in 2025-26 · £12 per resident; similar councils £18 · down 21.0% on 2024-25 - Libraries £12.54 ** 34.7% of this · £4.9m in 2025-26 · £8.37 per resident; similar councils £11 · down 36.0% on 2024-25 - Museums, arts, heritage and archives £4.18 ** 11.6% of this · £1.6m in 2025-26 · £2.79 per resident; similar councils £4.94 · down 38.2% on 2024-25 - Community centres and public halls £1.43 ** 4.0% of this · £565k in 2025-26 · £0.96 per resident; similar councils £0.02 · down 31.8% on 2024-25 - Other culture and leisure £0.44 ** 1.2% of this · £175k in 2025-26 · £0.30 per resident; similar councils £0.00 · down 33.5% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Somerset](#d-council) - Public health ### Public health £3.64 of your bill goes to public health at Somerset. Here is how its £25.9m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Health visiting and children's 0-5 services £1.27 ** 35.0% of this · £9.0m in 2025-26 · £15 per resident; similar councils £15 · up 3.0% on 2024-25 - Drug and alcohol services £0.87 ** 23.9% of this · £6.2m in 2025-26 · £10 per resident; similar councils £11 · down 17.6% on 2024-25 - Other public health £0.47 ** 13.0% of this · £3.4m in 2025-26 · £5.69 per resident; similar councils £5.38 · up 95.8% on 2024-25 - Sexual health £0.43 ** 11.9% of this · £3.1m in 2025-26 · £5.20 per resident; similar councils £7.38 · down 32.9% on 2024-25 - NHS health checks and health protection £0.17 ** 4.8% of this · £1.2m in 2025-26 · £2.09 per resident; similar councils £2.75 · up 7.7% on 2024-25 - Stop smoking and tobacco control £0.17 ** 4.6% of this · £1.2m in 2025-26 · £2.02 per resident; similar councils £1.89 · down 29.6% on 2024-25 - Obesity and physical activity £0.11 ** 3.1% of this · £803k in 2025-26 · £1.36 per resident; similar councils £2.16 · down 55.5% on 2024-25 - Public mental health £0.11 ** 3.1% of this · £801k in 2025-26 · £1.36 per resident; similar councils £2.11 · up 79.6% on 2024-25 - Children's 5-19 programmes £0.02 ** 0.7% of this · £174k in 2025-26 · £0.29 per resident; similar councils £4.23 · up 228.3% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - Somerset: adult social care precept, this year's increase ### Somerset: adult social care precept, this year's increase £37.15 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 Somerset's adult social care spending of £286.8m 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) £17.48 ** 47.1% of this precept · £136.1m in 2025-26 · £230 per resident; similar councils £152 · up 10.6% on 2024-25 - [Learning disability support](#d-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.learning-disability) £12.38 ** 33.3% of this precept · £96.4m in 2025-26 · £163 per resident; similar councils £152 · down 3.5% on 2024-25 - [Mental health support](#d-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.mental-health) £4.02 ** 10.8% of this precept · £31.3m in 2025-26 · £53 per resident; similar councils £39 · down 6.4% on 2024-25 - Care assessment and safeguarding £2.82 ** 7.6% of this precept · £22.0m in 2025-26 · £37 per resident; similar councils £39 · up 25.3% on 2024-25 - Assistive equipment and technology £0.38 ** 1.0% of this precept · £3.0m in 2025-26 · £5.03 per resident; similar councils £2.22 · down 22.9% on 2024-25 - Social support (carers, substance misuse, isolation, asylum) £0.04 ** 0.1% of this precept · £314k in 2025-26 · £0.53 per resident; similar councils £6.90 · down 28.3% on 2024-25 - [Sensory support](#d-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.sensory) £0.03 ** under 0.1% of this precept · £219k in 2025-26 · £0.37 per resident; similar councils £3.12 · down 94.8% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Somerset: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Physical support ### Physical support £17.48 of your bill goes to physical support at Somerset. Here is how its £136.1m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £14.34 ** 82.0% of this · £111.6m in 2025-26 · £189 per resident; similar councils £114 · up 19.3% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £3.15 ** 18.0% of this · £24.5m in 2025-26 · £41 per resident; similar councils £34 · down 17.1% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Somerset: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Learning disability support ### Learning disability support £12.38 of your bill goes to learning disability support at Somerset. Here is how its £96.4m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £11.14 ** 90.0% of this · £86.7m in 2025-26 · £147 per resident; similar councils £137 · down 2.4% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £1.24 ** 10.0% of this · £9.6m in 2025-26 · £16 per resident; similar councils £18 · down 12.2% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Somerset: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Mental health support ### Mental health support £4.02 of your bill goes to mental health support at Somerset. Here is how its £31.3m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £2.05 ** 51.0% of this · £16.0m in 2025-26 · £27 per resident; similar councils £25 · down 9.9% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £1.97 ** 49.0% of this · £15.3m in 2025-26 · £26 per resident; similar councils £14 · down 2.4% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Somerset: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Sensory support ### Sensory support £0.03 of your bill goes to sensory support at Somerset. Here is how its £219k of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £0.02 ** 72.1% of this · £158k in 2025-26 · £0.27 per resident; similar councils £0.94 · down 91.7% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £0.01 ** 27.9% of this · £61k in 2025-26 · £0.10 per resident; similar councils £1.67 · down 97.4% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable ### Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable £308.20 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 Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable's adult social care spending of £466.8m 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 Somerset 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 | £6.9m | £12 | £18 | — | down 21.0% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£12Similar councils, per resident£18Per mile of road—Changedown 21.0% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Street cleaningDetails | £4.2m | £7.02 | £11 | £997 (similar: £1,957) | down 31.7% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£7.02Similar councils, per resident£11Per mile of road£997 (similar: £1,957)Changedown 31.7% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Road and bridge maintenanceDetails | £8.4m | £14 | £26 | £2,012 (similar: £5,287) | up 10.9% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£14Similar councils, per resident£26Per mile of road£2,012 (similar: £5,287)Changeup 10.9% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Environmental, safety and routine maintenanceDetails | £8.9m | £15 | £22 | £2,141 (similar: £3,344) | up 37.4% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£15Similar councils, per resident£22Per mile of road£2,141 (similar: £3,344)Changeup 37.4% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Structural maintenance (resurfacing, bridges)Details | −£535k | £-0.91 | £7.61 | £-128.00 (similar: £2,209) | — | | Per resident£-0.91Similar councils, per resident£7.61Per mile of road£-128.00 (similar: £2,209)Change— | | | | | | | Winter service (gritting)Details | £2.3m | £3.88 | £4.01 | £551 (similar: £904) | up 37.5% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£3.88Similar councils, per resident£4.01Per mile of road£551 (similar: £904)Changeup 37.5% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Street lighting (including energy)Details | £6.0m | £10 | £6.63 | £1,448 (similar: £1,371) | up 0.4% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£10Similar councils, per resident£6.63Per mile of road£1,448 (similar: £1,371)Changeup 0.4% 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 | £643 | £718 | | Median£718 | | | | Adult social careDetails | £485 | £478 | | Median£478 | | | | Children's social careDetails | £271 | £309 | | Median£309 | | | | Environment and regulationDetails | £127 | £110 | | Median£110 | | | | Public healthDetails | £44 | £65 | | Median£65 | | | | Roads and transportDetails | £44 | £49 | | Median£49 | | | | Running the councilDetails | £43 | £52 | | Median£52 | | | | Housing (not council homes)Details | £33 | £34 | | Median£34 | | | | Planning and developmentDetails | £28 | £21 | | Median£21 | | | | Parks, leisure, libraries and cultureDetails | £24 | £38 | | Median£38 | | | | Other servicesDetails | £14 | £9.20 | | Median£9.20 | | | - Somerset spent **26.1%** of its gross service spending on its own staff in 2025-26 (median for unitary councils in England: 31.4%); 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 Somerset](/council-tax/england/somerset/) and [everything else about Somerset](/your-area/somerset/). ## Common questions What does council tax pay for in Somerset? A Band D bill of £2,560.59 is split between Somerset, Somerset: adult social care precept, this year's increase, Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable, Devon and Somerset Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Parish and town councils (average for the area). In proportion to spending, the largest line is adult social care, £732.40.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 Somerset](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/parking/somerset/) - [Back to Somerset: your area](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/your-area/somerset/) - [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.