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Scotland · single-tier councils · 2024-25

Scottish Borders Council budget and spending

Scottish Borders Council had net current service expenditure of £341.0m in 2024-25, about £2,920 for each of its 116,800 residents. By total budget it is 138th highest of 185 single-tier councils.

Net service spending, 2024-25
£341.0m
Spend per resident
£2,920
30th of 185 single-tier councils
Population (mid-2025)
116,800
ONS mid-year estimate
Rank by total budget
138th
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 Scottish Borders Council spends its money

Scottish Borders Council spending by service, 2024-25
  • Education£162.4m

    47.6% of the budget

  • Social work£115.2m

    33.8% of the budget

  • Environment£18.0m

    5.3% of the budget

  • Roads and transport£15.4m

    4.5% of the budget

  • Culture£13.7m

    4.0% of the budget

  • Housing (non-HRA)£6.9m

    2.0% of the budget

  • Central services£6.7m

    2.0% 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.

Councils with similar spend per resident

Scottish Borders Council: common questions

How much does Scottish Borders Council spend?

Scottish Borders Council had net current service expenditure of £341.0m in 2024-25. This is the council budget only: it excludes NHS spending, pensions, Universal Credit and debt interest.

How much does Scottish Borders Council spend per resident?

About £2,920 per resident, from a 2024-25 budget of £341.0m and an ONS population estimate of 116,800. That is 30th highest of 185 single-tier councils.

What does Scottish Borders Council spend most on?

Education is the largest service line at £162.4m, 47.6% of the 2024-25 budget.

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

Adult and children's social care together take 33.8% of net service spending in 2024-25.