Setting next year's budget

We consulted on our 2026-27 budget proposals, from 27 October to 15 December 2025.

Watch our budget video with Cllr Andrew Jamieson, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance.

Background

Each year, we review our budget and propose the savings we need to make for the following year to balance our budget.

Even though our overall spending is expected to increase next year, this is not enough to keep pace with inflation (the costs of providing our services), and the expected increases in demand for our services - particularly in adult social care and children's services.

This means that for 2026-27 there is a budget gap of £41.6m.

We have ideas for how to save money - this year there are 50 budget saving proposals. We are also proposing to increase council tax, which provides a large part of the funding we need to provide our services.

These proposed savings add up to £35.7m - which would make a big contribution to the overall amount we need to save.

Visit our citizen space page to find out more, including a list of the proposals. 

Next steps

The consultation opened on Monday 27 October 2025 and closed on Monday 15 December 2025.

We will take a report about the findings of this year's consultation to the Norfolk County Council Cabinet meeting in January 2026.

The council's select committees will comment on the budget proposals, before Cabinet finalises the proposals in January 2026 and the Full Council makes a final decision on the budget in February 2026.