Can you balance Dorset Council's budget? Use our Budget Simulator to explore the choices involved in setting a balanced budget.
Every year, Dorset Council must set a balanced budget to fund around 450 services for over 380,000 residents across Dorset. Services range from waste collection and road maintenance to supporting vulnerable children and adults. If you'd like to learn more about how the budget is funded and where money is spent, read our budget explained.

Based on the projected overspend report to Cabinet in February, the simulator starts with a £34.7 million budget gap. This reflects increasing demand and rising costs in services such as adult social care and children's services.

The simulator allows you to explore options for closing the gap and see how different choices could affect council services and council tax. 

Before you begin

A few things to know before you start:
 
  • the simulator starts with a projected £34.7 million budget gap
  • you'll be asked to explore options for closing that gap
  • the simulator uses illustrative examples rather than detailed budget proposals
  • many council services must be provided by law
  • changes in one service area can affect spending in another
  • some budget changes share the same impact descriptions
  • there is no single right answer

Start the Budget Simulator

Start the simulator to explore the decisions involved in setting a balanced budget for Dorset Council.

Learn more about the council budget

Watch our short video to learn more about council spending and the challenges involved in setting a balanced budget:
 

Why we are doing this

We want residents to understand:

  • how the council budget works
  • where money is spent
  • the challenges involved in setting a balanced budget
  • how spending decisions can affect different services


The simulator also helps us understand which services and issues are most important to residents.

The budget gap explained

In February, we forecast a budget gap of £34.7 million for the next financial year.

This is largely due to increased demand and rising costs in some of our largest services, particularly:

  • adult social care
  • children's services

These services support some of Dorset's most vulnerable residents. Demand for support is increasing, and the cost of providing services continues to rise.

The simulator gives you an opportunity to explore some of the choices involved in addressing this challenge while continuing to provide important services.

Key facts

The council faces a number of financial pressures when setting its budget each year. 

For example:
 
  • adult social care is one of the council's largest areas of spending
  • demand for some servies continues to grow
  • many council services must be provided by law

Questions about the Budget Simulator
Find answers to common questions about how the budget simulator works:

Is this a consultation on the council's budget?

No.
 

The Budget Simulator is an engagement exercise, not a formal consultation on the council's budget.

It is designed to help people understand the challenges of balancing the budget and the trade-offs councillors must consider when making decisions.

Is this Dorset Council's actual budget?

No.

The simulator is not Dorset Council's actual budget or a draft budget proposal.

However, it is based on real services, financial pressures and challenges facing the council. It is designed to provide a realistic example of the choices involved in balancing the budget.

Why does the simulator start with a budget gap?

The simulator starts with a projected budget gap of £34.7 million.

This reflects the financial pressures facing the council, including rising costs and increasing demand for services, particularly in adult social care and children's services.

Your challenge is to explore different options and see what it takes to balance the budget.

Are the impacts shown exact predictions?

No.

The impacts shown in the simulator are illustrative examples designed to help explain the possible consequences of different choices.

They are not exact predictions of what would happen in practice and should be viewed as examples, not guarantees.

Why do some percentage changes use the same description?

To keep the simulator simple and easy to use, some percentage changes share the same impact description.

For example, the same description may be shown for both a 1% and 2% increase or reduction. The descriptions are intended to show the likely impact of changes within a similar range.

Why can I change services that the council is legally required to provide?

Some council services are statutory services, which means the council is required by law to provide them.

For the purposes of this exercise, you can still change these budgets. This allows you to explore the full range of choices involved in balancing the budget.

In practice, legal duties may limit how much spending on these services can be reduced.

Why are there council tax options above 4.99%?

Councils are generally limited to a maximum council tax increase of 4.99% unless a local referendum is held.

Higher options are included in the simulator to help demonstrate the trade-offs involved in balancing the budget and to allow a wider range of scenarios to be explored.

They should not be seen as budget proposals.

Why can't the council simply reduce waste or improve efficiency?

Dorset Council continually looks for ways to work more efficiently, deliver value for money, and reduce demand for services through prevention and early help.

The simulator focuses on some of the larger choices involved in balancing the budget. It cannot reflect every efficiency, service improvement or operational change taking place across the council.

What happens to my response?

Your response helps us understand what matters most to residents when considering difficult budget decisions.

The Budget Simulator does not determine Dorset Council's budget. However, it can provide valuable insight into residents' priorities and views.

Further budget information

If you'd like to find out more, you can explore: