Council Budgets and Spending

This section of the website provides various financial information about the Council.

• How much do I pay?
• What does my money get spent on?
• How is it worked out?
• How does it all add up?
• How well does SBDC perform?
• How do I find out more?

How much do I pay?
The amount of Council Tax that you pay is determined by which parish area you live in, and the valuation band of the property that you live in.

For more information on Council Tax please select this link to the Council Tax section.

What does my money get spent on?
South Bucks District Council (SBDC) collects Council Tax on behalf of Buckinghamshire County Council (BCC), Thames Valley Police Authority (TVPA), Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Fire Authority, and local parish councils. South Bucks District Council only retains around 10% of the money collected to help fund the services that it provides.


More information on the services provided by the different bodies is contained within the council tax leaflet.

SBDC has consistently set its element of council tax lower than average. In 2010/11 the South Bucks District Council Band D council tax was set at 143.00 for the year. This was ranked amongst the lowest district councils nationally in terms of amounts charged for its portion of the council tax as illustrated in the graph below.



Summary of SBDC Budget

	2007/08 £'000	2008/09 £'000	2009/10 £'000	2010/11 £'000	2011/12 £'000
Net Expenditure	7,678	7,933	8,558	8,567	7,554
Use of reserves	-782	-594	-1,020	-935	-443
Budget Requirement	6,896	7,339	7,538	7,632	7,111
Government Grant	-2,919	-2,985	-3,000	-3,045	-2,470
Collection Fund Deficit/(Surplus)	32	-33	0	56	52
SBDC Net Requirement for C/Tax	4,009	4,321	4,538	4,643	4,693
Tax Base (No Band D equivalents)	31,101	32,005	32,375	32,470	35,820
Council Tax Band D	128.90	135.00	140.15	143.00	143.00
% Increase	4.0%	4.7%	3.8%	2.0%	0.0%

How is it worked out?
In order to guide the financial plans of the Authority, SBDC has a three year Financial Strategy. In addition each year when considering the Authority's budget Members consider a detailed budget report.

• Final 2011/12 Budget Report to Cabinet

How does it all add up?
Each year all local authorities are required to produce a very detailed Statement of Accounts document. The format of this document is prescribed by accounting standards, and shows the Council's income and expenditure in the year, and the Council's financial position at the end of the year.


How well does SBDC perform?
Each year our External Auditors, the Audit Commission, produce an Annual Audit letter to provide an overall summary of the Audit Commission's independent assessment of the Council. It draws on audit and inspection work carried out in the year and uses an analysis of the Council's performance and improvement over the year. It comments on improvements made in the services provided and on the way the Council manages its resources.


How do I find out more?
If you wish to find out more information about the Council’s Budgets and Spending you can:

• Obtain a list of all expenditure over £500
• See details of the Council’s fees and charges 
• Inspect the Accounts of the Council and certain related documents during the annual Accounts inspection period