The consultation - which ends on 7 August - asks for residents’ views on council tax proposals, services that should be prioritised and why, and ideas for cost savings and income generation.
The setting of that budget is once again a challenging process. The estimated budget gap is £81 million and with some of the authority’s reserves having been used to reinforce recent years’ budgets, further tough choices will need to be considered.
Significant spending demands and cost increases, largely for the most vulnerable residents in the areas of adult and children’s social care and home to school transport, continue to squeeze the budget.
The Government requires local authorities to deliver a balanced budget, which means planned spending must be managed within funding available.
The priority is to make the most efficient use of taxpayers’ money while focusing on protecting vital services to the most vulnerable people in Kent.
Kent County Council and all Kent's Borough Councils are set to be replaced by 3 or 4 unitary authorities, with next May's local elections possibly abandoned.