Kent Fire and Rescue Service
Budget Book and Medium Term Financial Plan 2024/25 – 2027/28

Council Tax Base

The Authority’s tax base is the sum of the tax bases of the 12 Kent District Councils and Medway Council (billing authorities) and is expressed as the number of equivalent Band D properties. The Council Tax base has increased by 1.66% for 2024/25.

Council Tax Referendum Limits

In recent years the Government has set a cap on the amount by which a local authority can increase its Council Tax each year without the requirement to hold a referendum. For 2024/25 Fire and Rescue Authorities can increase the charge by up to 3% without the need to hold a referendum.

Household Council Tax 

To arrive at the annual Council Tax charge that is made to each household, the Authority’s Council Tax charge is added on to the charges set by Kent County Council or Medway Council, plus the charges set by the relevant District Council, Kent Police and if applicable the Parish or Town Council charge. The total is then collected by the District Councils and Medway Council (billing authorities), on behalf of all the different precepting authorities.

Council Tax Increase 

The proposed Council Tax increase set out in this MTFP is 2.99% for 2024/25, a £2.61 a year increase for a Band D property (around 5p per week), increasing the Band D charge to £89.91 for 2024/25.