Humberside Fire and Rescue Service is consulting on its portion of Council Tax (known as precept) for the upcoming financial year 2026/27.
Why this matters
The Council Tax precept is one of the main sources of funding for Humberside Fire and Rescue Service, alongside government grants. Decisions about the precept affect the budget available to deliver fire and rescue services to our communities.
The government is changing how grants are allocated nationally through the Fair Funding Review. From 2026/27, a new Local Government Fair Funding Formula will apply. This could mean the Service has less funding and may need to make savings over the next three years.
Even if the government’s assumption of a £5 annual increase happens (based on a Band D property) our budget could still reduce by up to £3 million, which is around 5% of our budget. Without that increase, the reduction could be as much as £5 million. These changes may require us to review how fire and rescue services are provided in the community.
Local decisions on the Council Tax precept help us prepare for these changes. We recognise that any change to Council Tax impacts households.
For context, many homes in the Humber region are in lower Council Tax bands, so any change would depend on your property band.
We want your feedback on
We are asking for your support by selecting one out of the four options below:
- Option 1: 2.99% increase – approx 26p/month (£3.08/year) on a Band D property
- Option 2: 4.85% increase – approx 42p/month (£4.99/year) on a Band D property
- Option 3: 9.71% increase – approx 83p/month (£9.99/year) on a Band D property (requires referendum, adding costs)
- Option 4: No increase
Take part here
This consultation is open to everyone and we value your input.
Please share your feedback before 5pm on Friday 30 January 2026.
The final recommendation will be considered by the Humberside Fire Authority at its meeting on 13 February 2026.
Take part in our online survey.
If you have any questions about the consultation or require it in an alternative format, please email: corporatecommunication@humbersidefire.gov.uk
A Word version of the form can be found below.
How is the Service funded
There are two main sources of funding for Humberside Fire and Rescue Service:
- The Council Tax precept, which is a portion of Council Tax raised locally.
- Grant funding from central government.
Humberside Fire Authority provides fire and rescue services to the communities of Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, North and North East Lincolnshire, a population of nearly 950,000. Like many public sector organisations, the Authority faces financial challenges over the coming years and must plan carefully to manage resources effectively.
Decisions about the Council Tax precept influence the overall budget available for service delivery and planning.
Read more about our funding and plans
For more details on the Service’s costs, please visit our Finance webpage.