Dumfries and Galloway Council Ask Public To Suggest How To Save £30 million

Dumfries and Galloway Council is asking the public to take the budget challenge and tell us how they would create a council budget for 2019/20.

Using an online simulator, members of the public will be encouraged to try and identify which services they would make savings from in order to create a council budget.

Dumfries and Galloway Council has already had to make £92 million of savings over the last six years. The council now needs to make another £30 million of savings over the next two years. It is increasingly difficult to find savings which will not impact on individuals and communities.

Council Leader, Elaine Murray, said “Difficult and important decisions need to be made in order to make sure that our Council sets a budget that provides for the services that our individuals and communities depend on. That is why it is so important for people to take part in the budget challenge. Ahead of setting a budget, we need to know which services our communities would prioritise. The results of the budget consultation will help us to make informed choices when we set a budget for our Council.”

Depute Leader, Rob Davidson, said “We want to hear your views on some of the tough decisions we will need to make. This is important as these decisions may impact on you, your family and your friends so please get involved and take the budget challenge. Councillors need to understand the areas that are important to local people – which ones you would prioritise and which services you think can make savings. We want the public to put themselves in our shoes – show us the areas where you would make savings and how you would create a budget for the Council.”

Access the Council’s budget at: www.dumgal.gov.uk/budget

The budget challenge will be available until mid-December 2018.