Politics
Doncaster Residents Vote on £48 Annual Tax Increase for Roads, Buses
Doncaster residents will vote in September on a proposed levy that would add an average £48 to annual council tax bills while directing proceeds to specific highway repairs and bus route extensions.
How we reported this
The ballot measure asks voters to approve a new transport levy collected through council tax, with revenue restricted to road resurfacing, bus priority measures and cycle paths inside the borough boundary. If passed, the levy would apply to all domestic properties from April 2027 and would raise an estimated £6.2 million each year based on current property numbers.
Why the vote is scheduled now
Doncaster Council faces a projected £9 million gap in its highways maintenance budget for 2027-28 after central government grants were reduced in the latest local government finance settlement. The referendum route was chosen because legislation passed in 2024 requires direct resident approval before any new precept above 2 per cent can be added to council tax without a mayoral decision.
Policy analysts note that households in the DN1 to DN12 postcode areas would pay the same flat amount regardless of property band, while those in higher bands in areas such as Sprotbrough would contribute through the existing council tax system but receive no additional rebate. Local advocates note the measure would exclude commercial premises, leaving business rates unchanged.
Who gains and who pays
Commuters using the X78 and 57 bus services between Doncaster town centre and the iPort logistics park would see two extra morning departures if the levy passes, according to the council's draft transport plan. Residents in the Cantley and Bessacarr wards would gain resurfacing on the Bawtry Road section that carries 18,000 vehicles daily, while those in the Askern and Norton areas would receive no new projects under the first three-year spending list.
The legislation states that 70 per cent of levy receipts must be spent inside the borough and cannot be diverted to regional bodies. The government says the policy will protect the funds from reallocation, yet the same document shows no requirement to increase spending on footway repairs outside the main bus corridors.
Ballot papers will be posted to all registered electors on 1 September, with results declared by 10 September. If rejected, the council has stated it will defer the projects until alternative funding is identified in the 2028 budget round.