West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority (WYFRA) has agreed a £5 precept increase on the fire and rescue service council tax precept for 2026. The decision at the Full Authority meeting on February 26th will allow the Service to support essential investment, maintain frontline services and meet ongoing cost pressures.
For a Band D property, the change means an annual charge of £89.49 for fire and rescue services. This is a slight increase of £5 per year and less for those in bands A to C.
The precepts for 2026/27:
| Band | Precept 2026/27 | Annual increase from 2025/26 |
|---|---|---|
| Band A | £59.66 | £3.34 |
| Band B | £69.60 | £3.89 |
| Band C | £79.55 | £4.44 |
| Band D | £9.49 | £5 |
| Band E | £109.38 | £6.11 |
| Band F | £129.26 | £7.22 |
| Band G | £149.15 | £8.34 |
| Band H | £178.98 | £10 |
Despite the rise, West Yorkshire continues to be the fourth lowest fire and rescue precept per head of population in England.
Cllr Darren O’Donovan, Chair of the WYFRA says “We remain committed to delivering the best possible fire and rescue service for the people of West Yorkshire while managing our finances carefully. Rising costs and the need to invest in new buildings, technology and equipment mean that this increase is necessary to protect the service the public relies on.
“We do not take any rise lightly. This decision ensures that we can continue to make essential improvements across our estate and infrastructure and continue to provide an excellent service for the people of West Yorkshire.”
Chief Fire Officer John Roberts said “Like many organisations, we are managing the impact of higher costs, but our commitment to providing excellent value for money remains unchanged.
“We are grateful for the continued support of the public and will keep working hard to deliver a high-quality, efficient and forward-looking fire and rescue service.”
