Funding Salford Services

In order to provide local services, the council spends millions of pounds each year. This money comes from central government grants, government business rates and from the council tax you pay.

The largest proportion of Salford's budget is spent on community health and social care services (30.5%) and children's services (21.4%).
The money the council spends comes from three main sources: government revenue support grant of £16.6 million, council tax of £82.6 million and business rates from the government of £99 million.
In addition, the government provides the funding for schools via a dedicated schools grant under arrangements introduced in 2006/07.
In Salford, council tax accounts for 41.7% of the total budget.
In England in 2006-07, the average council tax per dwelling is £1,056 (based on a band D property), compared with £1,370.81 in Salford.

What is council tax?

Council tax raises money to help pay for the services we provide to you. All domestic properties are subject to council tax and the amount you pay depends on the band the property is in. The valuation office (part of HM Revenue and Customs) is responsible for allocating a band to each property based on the property's open market value as at 1 April 1991.

How council tax money is spent

The money raised specifically from council tax is spent on local services provided by the council, Greater Manchester Police and the fire and rescue authorities.

Adult social care - 24%
Children's services - 19%
Greater Manchester Police and fire and rescue authorities - 11.6%
Levies and charges - 10.2% (primarily GM Passenger Transport, GM Waste Disposal and theEnvironment Agency)
Highways, planning, economic & community development - 8.2%
Arts and leisure - 6.6%
Housing and environmental services - 5.9%
Central services, funds and provisions - 4.7%(includes services such as benefits, elections and births, deaths and marriages)
Capital financing - 9.8% (including buildings,infrastructure, machinery and vehicles)

Telephone: 0161 909 6502
Email: counciltaxenquiries@salford.gov.uk

What are business rates?

All businesses pay towards the cost of services and facilities provided by the council. This contribution is known as non-domestic or business rates. The money collected is pooled by the government and then redistributed to all local authorities according to the number of people who live in the area.

To find out more about business rates and how they are calculated contact:

Business Rates Section
Salford City Council
Unity House
Civic Centre
Chorley Road
Swinton
Salford
M27 5AW

Telephone: 0161 909 6542
Email: business.rates@salford.gov.uk

We send out information on business rates, how we set the council tax and how we spend the money when we send out bills once a year, each spring.

This page was last updated on 27 October 2011