The Band D precept in Haslemere will rise in 2025 and 2026, as the council’s Budget Working Party decides by how much. Currently, Haslemere's Band D precept is £55.52, which is £30 below the national average of £85.89.

The working party considered several options for increasing the precept, including 2.5 per cent, 4 per cent, and 6 per cent rises. While the council wants to keep costs down for residents, it’s also feeling the pinch of inflation, so a 2.5 per cent increase has been proposed to help cover rising service costs, particularly for maintaining the SANG and Lion Green toilets.

But the budget isn’t just about raising funds. The council received 13 grant applications, totalling £94,880, against a £74,000 budget.

A proposed £2,000 goes to 3Counties Money Advice, £20,500 for CAB (Citizens Advice), which was less than the £24,000 requested due to a merger.

To support 1,600 counselling sessions Crossways Counselling received £4,630, while Haslemere Food Bank got £7,500, a request for £15,000 was reduced to £12,500 for the Haslemere Youth Hub with a review in a year, £7,500 for HOPPA’s transport services, £500 for Sport Haslemere’s Create a Star project, £5,000 for Visit Haslemere to support the town’s visitor economy, and £1,750 for Weyhill in Bloom, an increase from previous years to reflect rising costs.

The council will finalise the budget in the coming months after feedback from the working party and public consultation.