Where Your Council Tax Really Goes in Carmarthenshire

Following questions raised by residents, I wanted to provide a clear and transparent overview of how Carmarthenshire County Council’s budget is funded and where the money is spent. 

Each year, the Council delivers services worth approximately £810 million, covering everything from education and social care to highways and environmental services. 

However, it is important to understand that Council Tax only funds around 17% of this total — approximately £141 million. The remaining 83% (£669 million) comes from Welsh Government funding, UK Government support, grants, and income from services. Your Council Tax is also distributed across three organisations:

• Carmarthenshire County Council (78%)

• Dyfed-Powys Police & Crime Commissioner (16%)

• Town and Community Councils (6%)

Where the budget is spent

The majority of expenditure is focused on essential services: -

• Education & Children’s Services – 42%

• Adult Social Care – 28%

• Waste & Environmental Services – 8%

• Highways & Transport – 7%

• Housing & Community Services – 5%

• Other Services – 10%

This means that around 70% of the total budget is spent on care and education alone.

My position on the 2026–27 budget...

I voted against the 2026–27 budget. While the agreed council tax increase of 4.9% was lower than initially proposed, this was largely achieved through one-off funding, including a pension-related windfall and additional Welsh Government support. While these measures are welcome, they are temporary and do not address the underlying financial pressures facing the Council.

I am particularly concerned about the ongoing challenges within Education and Children’s Services, where demand continues to rise and long-term sustainability remains uncertain.

Final thoughts

Council Tax plays an important role in funding local services — but it is only one part of a much wider financial picture.Understanding this helps provide important context when discussing budgets, service pressures, and future decisions.

📌 Figures are indicative and based on typical local authority spending patterns and may vary slightly year to year.