Currently, there is a budget gap of £38.5m for the coming year, but if council tax is increased, this could be brought down further to £8.2m.
Cllr Paul Marshall, Leader of West Sussex County Council, said: “We remain committed to delivering services that support our communities and vulnerable people, but we will face tough decisions if levels of funding are not addressed nationally.
"Uncertainty with inflation, interest rates, a new government, and the longer-term outlook for local government funding, means setting our budget for the years ahead is challenging.
“We will continue to lobby government for sufficient, long-term funding for our residents and businesses.”
Cllr Jeremy Hunt, West Sussex Cabinet Member for Finance and Property, said: “We are continuing to feel the pressure of increased demand on our services and the increasing complex needs of the residents in our care.
“We are also working hard on transformation programmes that will make the council more efficient including Children’s and Adults’ Services improvement programmes, Smarter Working, a new Digital Strategy, and increased Highways funding.
“Residents’ input is vital to the budget process, and we want to hear whether people think we are spending the right amount on services and what approach they think we should take to balance our budget.”
The breadth of the services provided by the county council is vast. You may have come into contact with the county council if you’ve ever:
- driven or cycled on the roads
- needed social care as an adult or child
- visited a Recycling Centre
- needed foster care
- suffered domestic abuse
- wanted help to start up a business
- read a book from the library
- been a school pupil or have children of school age
- registered a birth or death
- enjoyed a walk along a countryside footpath
- needed the support of the Fire and Rescue Service
People are encouraged to find out more about the consultation by visiting: www.westsussex.gov.uk/budget. An Easy Read version of the consultation is also available.
Anyone without access to the internet can visit a library or family hub to complete the consultation. For anyone needing further support completing an online form, help can be arranged from a digital volunteer.
Alternatively, people can request a printed version is sent to them, with a freepost return envelope, by calling 01243 777 100.
The consultation closes at 11.55pm on Sunday 15 December and all comments will be considered as part of the budget setting process for 2025/26.
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