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England · single-tier councils · 2024-25

Buckinghamshire Council budget and spending

Buckinghamshire Council had net current service expenditure of £1.0bn in 2024-25, about £1,760 for each of its 584,296 residents. By total budget it is 12th highest of 185 single-tier councils.

Net service spending, 2024-25
£1.0bn
Spend per resident
£1,760
144th of 185 single-tier councils
Population (mid-2025)
584,296
ONS mid-year estimate
Rank by total budget
12th
of 185 single-tier councils

This is the council budget only (net current service expenditure). NHS, pensions, Universal Credit and debt interest are not included. In two-tier counties, education and social care sit with the county, not the district.

Where Buckinghamshire Council spends its money

Buckinghamshire Council spending by service, 2024-25
  • Education£485.3m

    47.2% of the budget

  • Adult social care£226.8m

    22.1% of the budget

  • Children's social care£138.5m

    13.5% of the budget

  • Highways and transport£42.7m

    4.2% of the budget

  • Environment£34.2m

    3.3% of the budget

  • Central and other£30.3m

    2.9% of the budget

  • Public health£25.1m

    2.4% of the budget

  • Planning£20.5m

    2.0% of the budget

  • Housing£16.3m

    1.6% of the budget

  • Culture£8.5m

    0.8% of the budget

Single-tier councils (unitary, metropolitan, London borough and Scottish and Welsh councils) run every local service in their area, so they are compared with each other.

Benefits spending in Buckinghamshire

Across six benefits, £780.9m was paid out in Buckinghamshire in the 12 months to March 2026, about £1,336 per resident. That is 277th highest of 315 areas per person and 39th by total pounds, and 37.6% below the England and Wales figure of £2,142.

Benefits paid in Buckinghamshire by benefit, 12 months to March 2026
  • Universal Credit£486.0m
  • Personal Independence Payment£154.6m
  • Housing Benefit£69.6m
  • Disability Living Allowance£64.2m
  • Carer's Allowance£26.0m
  • Employment and Support Allowance£23.1m

Covers six benefits only: Universal Credit, PIP, Housing Benefit, DLA, Carer's Allowance and ESA. Excludes the State Pension, the largest welfare line. Compiled by the TaxPayers' Alliance from DWP Stat-Xplore, not a DWP borough publication. England and Wales, £133.1 billion in the 12 months to March 2026. Do not add this to the council budget: Housing Benefit is in both.

Councils with similar spend per resident

Buckinghamshire Council: common questions

How much does Buckinghamshire Council spend?

Buckinghamshire Council had net current service expenditure of £1.0bn in 2024-25. This is the council budget only: it excludes NHS spending, pensions, Universal Credit and debt interest.

How much does Buckinghamshire Council spend per resident?

About £1,760 per resident, from a 2024-25 budget of £1.0bn and an ONS population estimate of 584,296. That is 144th highest of 185 single-tier councils.

What does Buckinghamshire Council spend most on?

Education is the largest service line at £485.3m, 47.2% of the 2024-25 budget.

How much of Buckinghamshire Council's budget goes on social care?

Adult and children's social care together take 35.5% of net service spending in 2024-25.

How much is spent on benefits in Buckinghamshire?

£780.9m was paid out in the 12 months to March 2026 on six benefits (Universal Credit, PIP, Housing Benefit, DLA, Carer's Allowance and ESA), about £1,336 per resident. That ranks 277th of 315 areas per person. It excludes the State Pension and is not part of the council budget.