Tell us how our savings proposals impact you
Council Tax
Council Tax is an important source of income for the council, adding an expected £64.7 million to our revenue budget in 2024/25. However, this is less than 20% of the income the council receives, with the bulk provided directly by the Scottish Government.
While Council Tax is frozen for this current financial year (2024/25), increasing Council Tax by 5% would raise approximately £3.3 million for Midlothian Council in 2025/26.
However, even with a 5% rise in Council Tax in 2025/26, we still face a budget gap of £9.4 million. This is projected to rise to £20.6 million in 2028/29.
Not increasing Council Tax means services risk stopping, reducing or increasing fees and charges.
We want to know, therefore, how you would feel about increasing Council Tax by more than 5% and the impact this would have on you.
Please note Council Tax has not increased in line with inflation in the period from 2010/11. If it had, householders in a Band D property would be paying an extra £298.60 a year in Council Tax. (The Consumer Price Index was the inflationary measure used to illustrate this figure).
How much do you currently pay for Council Tax?
This year the annual rates, per valuation band, are:
| Council Tax band | 2024/25 rates |
| A | £1,009.82 |
| B | £1,178.12 |
| C | £1,346.43 |
| D | £1,514.73 |
| E | £1,990.19 |
| F | £2,461.44 |
| G | £2,966.35 |
| H | £3,711.09 |
This excludes the water supply and waste water charges collected by the council on behalf of Scottish Water. Scottish Water sets its own rates.
You may be eligible for a discount, for example if you are living alone.
How much money could be raised by increasing Council Tax?
The table below shows what each increase would mean in terms of annual charges.
Percentage increases are shown in the tables below, including an estimate of the additional income that would be generated for the council in 2025/26.
| Council Tax rates | 2024/25 | Estimated Additional Income in 2025/26 | ||||||
| 0% | 3% | 5% | 7% | 9% | 11% | 13% | 15% | |
| Collectables | £0 | £2m | £3.3m | £4.6m | £5.9m | £7.3m | £8.6m | £9.9m |
You can see from the tables above that if Council Tax went up by 3% next year the council would expect to get £2 million extra, alternatively if it were to increase by 9%, £5.9 million extra income would be raised.
What would increasing Council Tax mean for you?
To give you an idea of what that would mean for you, compared to this year, the tables below show the annual and monthly changes (both 12 and 10 months) that would apply.
If Council Tax increased in 2025/26 the annual cost for each home would go up as shown in this table:
| Council Tax Band | 2024/25 Council Tax Charge | Annual 2025/26 charges if percentages applied (rounded to nearest £) |
|||||||||||
| 3% | 5% | 7% | 9% | 11% | 13% | 15% | |||||||
| Band A | £1,009.82 | £30 | £50 | £71 | £91 | £111 | £131 | £151 | |||||
| Band B | £1,178.12 | £35 | £59 | £82 | £106 | £130 | £153 | £177 | |||||
| Band C | £1,346.43 | £40 | £67 | £94 | £121 | £148 | £175 | £202 | |||||
| Band D | £1,514.73 | £45 | £76 | £106 | £136 | £167 | £197 | £227 | |||||
| Band E | £1,990.19 | £60 | £100 | £139 | £179 | £219 | £259 | £299 | |||||
| Band F | £2,461.44 | £74 | £123 | £172 | £222 | £271 | £320 | £369 | |||||
| Band G | £2,966.35 | £89 | £148 | £208 | £267 | £326 | £386 | £445 | |||||
| Band H | £3,711.09 | £111 | £186 | £260 | £334 | £408 | £482 | £557 | |||||
Please note figures exclude water supply and waste water collection charges collected on behalf of Scottish Water. Scottish Water sets its own rates.
| Council Tax Band | 2024/25 Council Tax Charge | Monthly Increase if percentage increase applied in 2025/26 paid over 12 months (rounded to nearest £) |
|||||||||||
| 3% | 5% | 7% | 9% | 11% | 13% | 15% | |||||||
| Band A | £1,009.82 | £3 | £4 | £6 | £8 | £9 | £11 | £13 | |||||
| Band B | £1,178.12 | £3 | £5 | £7 | £9 | £11 | £13 | £15 | |||||
| Band C | £1,346.43 | £3 | £6 | £8 | £10 | £12 | £15 | £17 | |||||
| Band D | £1,514.73 | £4 | £6 | £9 | £11 | £14 | £16 | £19 | |||||
| Band E | £1,990.19 | £5 | £8 | £12 | £15 | £18 | £22 | £25 | |||||
| Band F | £2,461.44 | £6 | £10 | £14 | £18 | £23 | £27 | £31 | |||||
| Band G | £2,966.35 | £7 | £12 | £17 | £22 | £27 | £32 | £37 | |||||
| Band H | £3,711.09 | £9 | £15 | £22 | £28 | £34 | £40 | £46 | |||||
| Council Tax Band | 2024/25 Council Tax Charge | Monthly Increase if percentage increase applied in 2025/26 paid over 10 months (rounded to nearest £) |
|||||||||||
| 3% | 5% | 7% | 9% | 11% | 13% | 15% | |||||||
| Band A | £1,009.82 | £3 | £5 | £7 | £9 | £11 | £13 | £15 | |||||
| Band B | £1,178.12 | £4 | £6 | £8 | £11 | £13 | £15 | £18 | |||||
| Band C | £1,346.43 | £4 | £7 | £9 | £12 | £15 | £18 | £20 | |||||
| Band D | £1,514.73 | £5 | £8 | £11 | £14 | £17 | £20 | £23 | |||||
| Band E | £1,990.19 | £6 | £10 | £14 | £18 | £22 | £26 | £30 | |||||
| Band F | £2,461.44 | £7 | £12 | £17 | £22 | £27 | £32 | £37 | |||||
| Band G | £2,966.35 | £9 | £15 | £21 | £27 | £33 | £39 | £44 | |||||
| Band H | £3,711.09 | £11 | £19 | £26 | £33 | £41 | £48 | £56 | |||||
Please note figures exclude water supply and waste water collection charges collected on behalf of Scottish Water. Scottish Water sets its own rates.
Discounts, such as the single person discount, would be adjusted accordingly too, and those who benefit from the Council Tax Reduction Scheme would also have their circumstances updated to reflect new charges.