Key Points
- Glasgow City Council has agreed a 5.9% Council Tax increase for 2026/27.
- Scottish Water charges on the same bill will rise by 8.7% in nominal terms, equivalent to 8.67% in the WICS announcement.
- The increase is being introduced alongside budget pressures, including a shortfall of about £35 million to £36.8 million.
- Some residents may qualify for a discount, exemption, or a pause in payments, but they must apply for it and it is not granted automatically.
- The council has linked the budget to spending priorities including free school meals, cleaning services, flood prevention work, and homelessness-related costs.
Glasgow (Glasgow Express) May 5, 2026 residents who are struggling with bills may be able to reduce their council tax or, in some cases, avoid paying it altogether, but they must apply for support rather than assume it will be applied automatically. Glasgow City Council has confirmed a 5.9% rise for 2026/27, while Scottish Water has announced an 8.7% increase in water and wastewater charges that are included on the same bill.
What has Glasgow City Council decided?
Glasgow City Council agreed a 5.9% Council Tax increase for 2026/27 after the SNP and Greens reached a budget deal, according to the BBC’s Colin Mackay. The council said the rise is part of efforts to deal with financial pressures and fund local priorities, with the treasurer Ricky Bell saying the city was
“very, very conscious that everyone is experiencing a cost of living crisis.”
As reported by the BBC, the budget also includes measures such as extending free school meals to every child in primary seven, investing in cleaning services, and adding extra gully cleaning to help with flood prevention.
The same report says the council intends to borrow money using its capital grant to help address a funding gap of £36.8 million.
Who can get a discount?
Residents may qualify for a council tax discount depending on their circumstances, but eligibility varies and the article makes clear that support must be applied for.
The key point is that Glasgow City Council does not automatically grant the relief, so anyone who thinks they may qualify should submit an application through the council’s official forms.
Discounts and reductions generally depend on factors such as household composition, income, disability-related circumstances, and whether the property is occupied or empty.
The article does not list every category in detail, but it does make clear that people facing difficulty should check whether they are entitled to support rather than simply paying the full bill.
Can council tax be free?
Some residents may be able to avoid paying council tax altogether if they qualify for a full exemption or a complete reduction, but again this is not automatic. The news report states that people
“could avoid paying council tax altogether”
if they are eligible, which means the burden falls on the resident to apply and prove entitlement.
That matters because the bill is expected to rise, and the council tax charge in Glasgow also carries Scottish Water costs on top of the local authority element. For many households, that makes any reduction or exemption more valuable than a standard discount.
Why are bills rising?
The council tax rise is taking place against a difficult financial backdrop for Glasgow. The BBC report says the council is facing a £36.8 million shortfall, while Clyde 1’s report by local newsroom staff says the budget has also been shaped by homelessness pressures and a need to fund services.
Scottish Water’s charges are rising separately, and the Water Industry Commission for Scotland says average household bills will increase by about £42 a year, or around £3.50 a month, from 1 April 2026.
WICS says the nominal increase is 8.67%, which it describes as being driven by the need to fund investment in water and wastewater services.
What should residents do now?
Residents who think they may qualify for support should apply through Glasgow City Council rather than wait for an automatic reduction.
The council’s own application route is linked in the article, and the report specifically says the exemption or discount will not be granted unless requested.
Households should also remember that the bill combines the council tax element with Scottish Water charges, so the increase may feel larger than the council tax figure alone. The combined effect means even modest relief could matter for households already under pressure.
Background of the development
The rise follows a budget agreement between the SNP and the Greens, which allowed Glasgow City Council to pass its 2026/27 financial plan.
According to the BBC, the administration chose to keep the rise below a 6% ceiling while redirecting funds towards priorities such as school meals, cleansing, flood prevention, and borrowing costs linked to the funding gap.
The wider context is that Scottish councils have been under pressure from inflation, service demand, and homelessness costs, and Glasgow is no exception. Clyde 1’s reporting said the city’s budget also involved funding cuts and investment decisions, showing how local authorities are trying to balance essential services with limited resources.
Prediction: how will this affect Glasgow households?
For Glasgow households, the most immediate effect will be higher annual bills, especially for residents who pay the full council tax charge and the Scottish Water element together. Families on tight budgets, pensioners on fixed incomes, and people already in arrears are likely to feel the increase most sharply, which may push more residents to check whether they qualify for support.
