Dumfries and Galloway Council has opened a five-week consultation to gather views from residents, colleagues, and partners on how to balance its budget for 2026/27.
The consultation, which runs from Friday 17 October to Sunday 23 November, invites people to comment on a range of savings and income-generation options before councillors set next year’s budget.
Like many councils across Scotland, Dumfries and Galloway is facing significant financial pressures. Rising costs and increasing demand for services mean funding is not keeping pace. The council has already made £133 million in savings over the past 16 years and now needs to find around £35 million more over the next three years to protect essential services and balance the books.
This figure does not include any Council Tax increases that were tentatively planned for 2026/27 and 2027/28. Even with those increases, the council would still face a substantial shortfall.
Council Leader Cllr Stephen Thompson said:
“This is a difficult financial period for local authorities all across Scotland, and our council is no exception. We need to make savings as well as look at ways to raise income while continuing to protect the vital services that support our region’s communities.
Dumfries and Galloway councillors need to hear what matters most to people as early in the process as possible before they take significant budget decisions.
I would encourage everyone to submit their views either online on the simulator, by using a paper survey, or by attending one of the Community Conversation events.
This is about listening to the people of Dumfries and Galloway so that the views you submit can make a difference.”
How to Take Part (17 October – 23 November)
- Online survey: Share your views on savings and income-generation options.
- Community Conversations: Local drop-ins across all 12 wards (dates and locations are listed on the council’s Budget Consultation webpage).
- Paper or assisted digital surveys: Available through libraries and Customer Service Centres.
- Budget Challenge simulator: An interactive tool now live to help residents explore financial trade-offs.
Full details, including links to the survey, event dates, and background information, are available at dumfriesandgalloway.gov.uk/budgetconsultation.
An initial summary of findings will be presented at the Full Council meeting on 11 December, with the 2026/27 Budget due to be agreed on Thursday 26 February 2026.
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