Every year we set a budget to decide how much money will be spent on services.
Councillors meet to agree how we use our allocated funding, which mainly comes from Council Tax, business rates and the government.
Budget for 2026 to 2027
Full Council met on Wednesday 25 February and approved the 2026 to 2027 budget.
You can:
Council Tax
Council Tax has been increased by 4.994% for 2026 to 2027. Council Tax is used to pay for critical services such as social care, waste collections, housing, highways, libraries and more.
Medway’s Council Tax remains the lowest in Kent and is still some way below the national average.
Additional funding
To provide a balanced budget, we requested £10.126m in Exceptional Financial Support from the government for 2026 to 2027.
This is the third and final planned year of Medway requesting this additional flexibility, as we're on track to achieve a sustainable financial position.
Financial support for residents
If you’re struggling financially and need help, you can: