COUNCIL tax in Argyll and Bute has risen by more than 50 per cent in the past 10 years – while its increase this year was the third highest in Scotland.
All of the nation’s 32 councils have confirmed how much they will raise council tax by as part of their budgets for the 12 months beginning April 1.
The increase in Argyll and Bute was 9.7 per cent, and only Aberdeenshire and Moray Councils, with a 10 per cent increase, have raised it by more, figures have shown.
Argyll and Bute was one of six authorities who increased council tax by nine per cent or more, and one of 14 to raise it by eight per cent or more.
It also boasts the seventh-highest cumulative council tax rise among the 32 Scottish local authorities over the past two budgets.
It has increased the charge by a total of 19.6 percentage points over that time, with Falkirk Council’s total increase over 2025/26 and 2026/27 being the highest in Scotland.
The tax for a band D property in Argyll and Bute in 2026/27 is £1,783.33, when it was £1,178 in 2016/17 – an increase of more than 51 per cent over 10 years.
The 2026/27 budget for Argyll and Bute Council was set on Wednesday, February 25, with a budget proposed by the ruling group of SNP, Liberal Democrat, Labour, Green and some independent councillors prevailing on a roll call vote.
An amendment moved by opposition councillors proposed to increase council tax by 4.9 per cent.
At the time of setting the budget, council leader Jim Lynch (SNP, Oban South and the Isles) said: “This year has been one of the most challenging budgets this council has faced. Services and support that we know people rely on were going to be lost to the budget black hole.
“The council continues to deliver millions of pounds of efficiencies. But the scale of the budget gap meant that increasing council tax had to be part of budget decisions, to save vital services that many people have told us really matter to them.
“This decision is easy to criticise, extremely difficult to take, but the responsible choice given what it makes possible. It saves services and investment that protect and develop the wellbeing and economy of Argyll and Bute.”
Among the savings options rejected by the administration’s budget were the withdrawal of council involvement in the running of public toilets, a reduction in winter maintenance and street sweeping services, and the withdrawal of environmental wardens.
It also refused to reduce funding for liveArgyll, which manages leisure services on the council’s behalf, while funding was also made available for roads, and the area’s health and social care partnership.
The council tax increase in Argyll and Bute this year is also greater than any authority with any directly neighbouring authorities.
West Dunbartonshire Council’s increase was 7.8 per cent, Stirling Council’s was 8.75 per cent, Perth and Kinross Council’s was 8.9 per cent and Highland Council’s was seven per cent. Inverclyde Council, reachable directly by boat from Argyll and Bute, increased council tax by 7.9 per cent.
