Edinburgh council budget 2026/27: What it will mean for you

After last year’s 8 per cent council tax rise, there was pressure to keep this year’s increase down. And in seeking to do so, the council was helped by the prospect of revenue from the new tourist tax or Visitor Levy, which comes into effect in July - the first in the UK.

Because of the Labour administration’s minority position, it always has to win the support of at least two other groups to get its budget passed. The negotiations which secured the backing of the Liberal Democrat and Tory groups led to some significant commitments as part of this year’s package.

Council leader Jane Meagher said: “I’m proud that we’ve once again delivered a balanced budget that focuses on meeting the needs of Edinburgh’s residents. It is a budget that reinforces our commitment to tackling poverty, prioritising prevention and protecting frontline services for those most in need of our support.

“This ambitious budget clearly demonstrates the strength of listening to our communities and working across party lines to do what’s best for the residents of Edinburgh.”

Here are some of the key elements of the council’s budget for the coming year.