Members of the public, community groups, businesses and young people are being invited to share their views on how The Highland Council balances its budget and plans spend over the next three years.
The Council needs to find £39.2 million of additional savings over the next three years to deliver a balanced financial plan, driven largely by the impact of rising costs and the ongoing impact of wider economic events.
This is in addition to £32.8 million of savings and other budget measures already agreed in 2027/28 and 2028/29 through the Council's three-year financial planning approach.
The budget engagement is now live on the Engage Highland platform on The Highland Council website.
The first phase of the engagement will focus on the Council’s Budget Simulator, which launches today and gives people the opportunity to explore the challenges of balancing the Council’s budget.
The interactive tool allows people to consider where spending could be reduced and where additional income could be generated, allowing users to understand the potential impact if budgets are reduced.
Once users have balanced the budget, they can submit their proposed budget to the Council and share any additional comments or ideas. This will help the Council understand public priorities.
Over the coming weeks, further engagement opportunities will be launched, including a a budget survey tailored for members of the public, community groups and young people, as well as an online ideas board where people can share their views and suggestions.
Focus groups will also take place with community councils, tenant and business forums, third sector organisations and parent councils before the end of the year.
Chair of the Council’s Budget Review Group, Cllr Bill Lobban, said: “The Highland Council has made significant progress in recent years in addressing budget pressures, and our approach to financial planning has been recognised by Audit Scotland. However, rising costs and wider economic challenges continue to put significant pressures on local government budgets. We deliver services that people rely on every day, so it’s essential residents, communities, business and young people help shape the decisions we make. This consultation will provide a range of ways for people to get involved and share their views, starting with the budget simulator. We want to hear from as many people as possible before we finalise our budget plans."
On Monday, COSLA launched its budget ask of the Scottish Government, calling for a fairer funding settlement that keeps pace with rising costs and growing demand for local services.
COSLA is seeking increased investment in local government, including support to meet growing social care demands, inflation-proofed funding, greater local flexibility and multi-year settlements that allow councils to plan effectively for the future.