Fareham, Gosport, Eastleigh, and Hampshire County Council have all agreed their latest budgets for 2026/27, setting out changes that will affect millions of households across the county.
Although most councils are increasing charges close to the government’s maximum allowed rise without a referendum, the final bill varies widely once borough, county, police, fire, and parish precepts are combined.
After two months without a council tax bill, here is how much more residents are likely to start paying from April 1 in each area.
Hampshire County Council
Hampshire County Council, which makes up the largest portion of the bill, is increasing its share by 4.99% — close to the maximum allowed without a referendum.
The rise is being driven by growing demand for adult social care, children’s services, and support for those with special educational needs and disabilities, alongside wider pressures on statutory services such as highways.
For a Band D property, the county council precept will be £1,690.11 from 1 April 2026, representing an average increase of £1.54 per week.
Council tax bills also include separate charges set by district and borough councils, as well as contributions to policing and fire services. The Police and Crime Commissioner, Donna Jones, has approved a 5.45% increase in the police precept, while the fire and rescue authority has agreed a 5.69% rise.
Fareham
In Fareham, the borough council has agreed a 2.99% increase for 2026/27. This takes the Band D charge to £197.14, an increase of £5.72 over the year, with the total council tax bill reaching £2,270.55.
However, the borough council accounts for just under 9% of the overall bill. Of the total, £1,690.11 goes to Hampshire County Council, £290.46 to policing, £92.84 to fire services, and the remainder to Fareham Borough Council.
This means that while the borough’s own increase is relatively modest, most of the rise residents see is driven by county and emergency service costs. Fareham’s share funds services such as waste collection, maintaining green spaces, supporting affordable housing, and street cleaning.
Gosport
In Gosport, the council has also agreed a 2.99% increase for 2026/27. The total Band D council tax will be £2,344.29, with the borough council’s portion rising to £270.88 — an increase of £7.87.
Hampshire County Council again takes the largest share at £1,690.11, equivalent to around 72% of the bill. The police precept accounts for £290.46 and fire services £92.84, while Gosport Borough Council represents about 11.6% of the total.
As in other areas, this means most of the increase is driven by costs outside the borough council’s direct control, despite the visible rise in the overall bill.
Eastleigh
Eastleigh Borough Council has also agreed a 2.99% increase. Its share of the bill for a Band D property will be £131.71 per year, or around £2.53 per week.
Less than 6% of the total council tax bill goes to the borough council itself. The majority is made up of Hampshire County Council’s share (72%), alongside contributions to policing (12%) and fire services (4%).
What makes Eastleigh different is the role of parish and town councils. These account for around 6% of the total bill on average but vary depending on location, meaning residents in different parts of the borough can face different overall increases.
The borough council’s funding supports services including waste collection, parks and leisure facilities, housing, and planning.
