As you may be aware, Dumfries and Galloway Council has already made around £133 million in savings over the past 16 years.
However, we now face the challenge of identifying a further £35 million in savings or new income over the next three years to balance the budget and protect vital services.
Importantly, this figure does not include any potential Council Tax increases currently being considered for 2026/27 and 2027/28. Even with those increases, a significant funding gap remains.
These financial pressures are not unique to our region – councils across Scotland are facing similar challenges due to inflation, rising costs, and increasing demand for services, especially in large rural areas like ours.
To address this, councillors have agreed to consult early and openly on a range of potential savings and income-generation options before setting the 2026/27 budget in late February 2026.
The consultation runs from Friday 17 October to Sunday 23 November.
Your views are vital. They will help councillors understand what matters most to people across Dumfries and Galloway and guide the decisions they make.
There are two ways to get involved:
Complete the online survey: Budget Consultation 2026/27 | Dumfries and Galloway Council
Attend a local engagement event: Details are on the attached poster.
For Ward 1, the event will take place 3pm to 7pm on Tuesday 4th November at the Ryan Centre Stranraer.
