Residents across Dumfries and Galloway have one week left to share their views on the council’s 2026/27 Budget Consultation, which closes at midnight on Sunday 23 November.
The consultation invites people to explore a range of savings and income options aimed at helping the council close a projected £35 million funding gap over the next three years.
Like councils across Scotland, Dumfries and Galloway Council faces difficult financial choices in the years ahead.
Rising costs and growing demand for services mean every pound must stretch further, while funding isn’t keeping pace.
To help meet this challenge, councillors have agreed to consult early and openly on a range of potential savings and income-generation options before setting the 26/27 budget in late February 2026.
Over the past 16 years Dumfries and Galloway Council has already made around £133 million in savings.
We now need to identify a further £35 million over the next three years through savings and new income to balance the budget and protect vital services.
Importantly, this £35 million shortfall does not include any indicative Council Tax increases tentatively planned for 2026/27 and 2027/28.
Even with those increases, a significant funding gap remains.
Council Leader Councillor Stephen Thompson is encouraging people to have their say:
“The consultation closes at midnight on Sunday 23 November so whether you fill in the online survey, do the Budget Challenge simulator, or join a community conversation in your area, your views will help shape the budget decision taken by the council.
“It is completely understandable that people are worried about what some of these proposals might mean for them. Nobody wants to be in a position where savings of this scale have to be found.
“But these are the realities we face. The consultation lets councillors listen first before any decisions are made. It’s important to hear what people value most, where they think the priorities should lie, and how the impact of unavoidable savings can be reduced.
“These are proposals, not decisions. The feedback over the next week will help councillors weigh those difficult choices when they set the 2026/27 budget in late February 2026.”
The council has designed this year’s budget consultation to be as open and transparent as possible, with multiple ways for people to take part: residents can share their views by filling in the online survey, trying the interactive Budget Challenge simulator or attending one of the Community Conversations taking place across all 12 council wards.
An Easy Read summary of the consultation and a plain text version of the survey are also available on the council’s website, alongside paper copies and assisted digital support in local libraries and Customer Service Centres. Residents can also request alternative formats – for example, Large Print and audio – by emailing [email protected].
We are also engaging with representative groups, including organisations supporting disabled residents, to ensure that feedback from all residents is heard and included.
Residents can take part at www.dumfriesandgalloway.gov.uk/budgetconsultation, where there’s also a plain-English ‘Your Questions Answered’ guide explaining the process and context in full.