Hundreds of Dorset residents have helped shape budget thinking after taking part in an online challenge run by the council.
More than 700 people stepped into the role of councillors using Dorset Council’s Budget Challenge, an interactive online tool designed to show how difficult it can be to balance spending decisions while closing a significant funding gap across key local services.
In total, 745 residents adjusted budgets covering areas including adult social care, waste services and highways, with a follow up survey showing nearly 60 per cent felt they had a better understanding of how council finances work after completing the exercise.
The results showed most participants made relatively small changes to everyday services, with waste reduced by less than one per cent on average and highways seeing an increase of around one per cent, while many reduced spending on adult social care and corporate services to try to balance the budget.
Participants also suggested an average council tax increase of more than seven per cent, although Dorset Council says the maximum increase allowed without a referendum is 4.99 per cent under government rules for councils with social care responsibilities.
Councillor Simon Clifford, Cabinet member for Finance and Capital Strategy, said the challenge highlighted how difficult budget decisions can be and encouraged more residents to take part, adding that it was “a simple way to see how your council tax is spent”.
Dorset Council has now reopened the Budget Challenge, with feedback already shared with councillors ahead of budget proposals for 2026/27, which are expected to be published for scrutiny early next year.
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