The budget, agreed at a meeting of the Full Council on 24 February, outlines how the authority will fund essential services amid rising demand, increasing costs and what it describes as insufficient Scottish Government support.

Around 80% of the council’s revenue comes from government grant funding, with Council Tax contributing roughly 19%. Nearly 90% of the total budget will be directed towards Education, Social Care and Operational Services, including roads, waste, open spaces, public transport and school meals.

Two priority areas will receive significant additional investment this year:

• Adult and Older People Social Care Services
• Pothole repairs and road defect maintenance

The council says the extra Council Tax income will help avoid some of the most severe savings previously considered by the West Lothian Integration Joint Board (IJB), which oversees adult health and social care.

Further funding will support:

• Community buildings, including libraries and Partnership Centres
• The Advice Shop and wider support services
• Operational improvements across council facilities

Council leader Lawrence Fitzpatrick said the budget aims to protect frontline services while responding to growing pressures.

“We have to set a balanced budget each year, and this ensures that we can continue to provide vital local services to our community,” he said.

“Our budget this year will help protect front-line services and ensure that we’re able to invest significant amounts of additional funding into two key service areas; road improvements and social care for older people and vulnerable adults.”

He warned that rising demand and higher operating costs are outpacing the funding the council receives.

“If we spend money on one service it can’t be spent on another. The more funding we can raise, the more funding we have to spend on local services, but we fully recognise that there is balance,” he added.

Fitzpatrick also stressed that increasing Council Tax is not a sustainable long‑term solution, saying the Scottish Government must provide councils with the resources needed to maintain and improve services.

Despite the investment commitments, the council must make almost £20 million in savings over the next two years to meet its legal requirement to balance the budget.

Audit Scotland has warned that all Scottish councils face similar pressures and cannot rely on reserves to plug funding gaps.

A wide range of internal efficiency measures will be introduced, including:

• Streamlining admin and business support
• Management restructures
• Fleet and procurement savings
• Increased energy‑efficiency measures
• Greater use of digital systems and AI
• Reviewing mail services and procurement contracts
• Reducing staff numbers and leaving some vacancies unfilled

The council also plans to increase its Council Tax collection rate, currently at 97.75%.