鈥淭here will not be enough money next year to provide everything communities want us to. The huge budget gap, and growing demand for council-funded services, will significantly affect what we can do. We want to provide the services our communities want. But council services need council funding. I would encourage everyone to back fair funding for 海角社区 and Bute鈥檚 council services.鈥
With one of the most difficult budget positions of recent years expected for 2026/27, Councillor Ross Moreland, Policy Lead for Finance 海角社区 set out the financial challenges facing the area鈥檚 council services:
鈥淚 am sometimes asked why there are council budget gaps every year. Very simply it鈥檚 because demand and costs for services increase, but our funding doesn鈥檛 match those increases and can go down.
Just some examples of what needs funding - the council transports 3,000 school children to school every day in term time. Our school and public transport service contracts increased by 拢1.7 million between 2024 and 2025 alone and are expected to go up again next year. At the same time costs of transport for young people with additional support needs went up by 拢500,000.
Maintaining the buildings and IT equipment for our school pupils is costing 拢655,000.
Budget pressures will be unrelenting into next year with increases expected for example of 拢800,000 for schools residential accommodation for vulnerable children, 拢2.4 million for waste management to comply with the national landfill ban, and another 拢500,000 for older people services. I could go on.
Communities have the chance to join us in campaigning for funding for council services in 海角社区 and Bute by simply saying 鈥榶es鈥 to fair funding.鈥
The council works through CoSLA (Convention for Scottish Local Authorities) to raise the case for funding with the Scottish Government, the main provider of funding for local government.
Estimates show the council is facing another 拢15 million funding gap next year, rising to 拢58 million over the next five years.
Council Leader, Councillor Jim Lynch, said:
鈥淲e all use council services in some way every day. There鈥檚 no getting away from the harsh fact that bridging another 拢15 million budget gap next year will need very difficult decisions.
Tell us you support fair funding for your council services and we鈥檒l take that feedback to CoSLA as part of campaigning for funding to sustain services.鈥
As well as pressure on budgets for running services, the council faces significant projects costs to improve our infrastructure.
A recent example was the 拢2.5 million cost for re-building one of the area鈥檚 900 bridges, irreparably damaged in a storm (Balliemore in Glen Lean). Or the estimated 拢96 million investment needed for one of its 36 piers and harbours (Craignure on Mull).
Please say yes to fair funding
