On Monday, 23 February, Royal Berkshire Fire Authority agreed Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s 2026/27 Budget and Band D Council Tax precept.
The council tax precept increase for 2026/27 is £5 more per year (based on a Band D household), which will be used to maintain the dedicated service carried out by RBFRS, while also investing in the Service’s dedicated staff, estate, training and equipment.
At the meeting, Royal Berkshire Fire Authority agreed a council tax precept of £91.31 per annum for 2026/27, for a Band D property.
This decision was reached by the Fire Authority following a public consultation, which ran throughout January 2026 and attracted more than 270 responses. More than 78% of respondents who took part in the consultation were in support of RBFA raising council tax by £5 (for a band D household).
Councillor Jeff Brooks, Chair of Royal Berkshire Fire Authority, said:
“Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service remains as committed as ever to providing excellent services as efficiently as possible and this budget will ensure the Service can continue to keep the people of Berkshire safe.
“The agreed council tax precept for 2026/27 is the equivalent of £1.75 per week for a Band D household. This represents excellent value for money, with ongoing investment in the Service’s dedicated staff, estate, training and equipment, including new fire engines and ICT equipment.
“As well as budgeting wisely to extend the life of many of our buildings and fleet, more than £1.5 million in savings and income generation have been delivered over a two-year period.
“This shows that RBFRS remains a good Service, in safe hands with prudent financial management, with a with a further significant programme of savings of more than £1 million in the year ahead.
“Currently Royal Berkshire Fire Authority is among the lowest 25% of precepting (council tax collection) fire authorities in the country, and as a result RBFRS remains a low cost but high-quality Service providing excellent value for money for our communities.”
For more details about council tax and how it is spent visit our website, where further information is also available about our Corporate Plan and Integrated Risk Management Plan 2023-2027.
You can view the meeting of Royal Berkshire Fire Authority on 23 February on RBFRS’ YouTube channel.