Trafford Council has been given permission to raise council tax by 7.49% for the second year running, after the government approved an emergency funding request to help balance the borough's books.
The increase - which still needs to be formally agreed by councillors on March 5th - will add £141 to the annual bill for a typical Band C property, taking it from £1,885.16 to £2,026.48.
That works out at an extra £2.72 per week, on top of last year's increase.
Altrincham residents face higher bills
Property values in the Altrincham area are significantly higher than the borough average, meaning many local residents will pay more than the typical Band C figure.
Analysis of government data shows that just 48% of homes in the Altrincham and Sale West constituency are in Bands A to C, compared to 68% across Trafford. Over 32% of properties locally fall into the higher bands (E to H), compared to just 17% borough-wide.
Those in Band D - which accounts for 20% of Altrincham properties - will see their bills rise by £159 to £2,279.84, while those in Band G will face an increase of £265 to £3,799.75.
What you'll pay by band
| Band | Altrincham & Sale W houses | 2025/26 | 2026/27 | Annual rise |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 4,370 (10.1%) | £1,413.88 | £1,519.86 | £105.98 |
| B | 5,800 (13.5%) | £1,649.53 | £1,773.17 | £123.64 |
| C | 10,380 (24.1%) | £1,885.16 | £2,026.48 | £141.32 |
| D | 8,600 (20.0%) | £2,120.84 | £2,279.84 | £159.00 |
| E | 5,130 (11.9%) | £2,592.13 | £2,786.46 | £194.33 |
| F | 3,820 (8.9%) | £3,063.42 | £3,293.10 | £229.68 |
| G | 3,940 (9.1%) | £3,534.72 | £3,799.75 | £265.03 |
| H | 1,050 (2.4%) | £4,241.68 | £4,559.68 | £318.00 |
There are approximately 43,000 properties in the Altrincham and Sale West constituency and 104,000 across Trafford as a whole.
Why is this happening?
Finance chiefs were forced to seek emergency support after the government's Fair Funding Review - a major overhaul of how money is distributed between councils - left Trafford with a £24 million budget deficit.
The council says the increase means it will avoid bankruptcy and be able to support growing demand for services for vulnerable adults, children in care and homeless families.
It is the second consecutive year Trafford has been granted permission to raise council tax above the normal 5% referendum limit. Last year, the council was one of only six authorities in England given such approval.
Even with back-to-back 7.49% increases, the council says Trafford will still have the second-lowest council tax in Greater Manchester and remain around 10% below the average for metropolitan districts.
What the council says
Council leader Tom Ross said: "This has been a really tough request for us to make but this increase is needed as it allows us to support increased spending where it is desperately needed - on vulnerable adults, children and homelessness.
"I know any council tax increases will be difficult for some people to manage and many of our residents will be seeing rising costs in other aspects of their lives, so we want to do everything we can to support those who may be facing financial hardship.
"If the increase is agreed, we will look to support our residents who are on low incomes where we can through our council tax support scheme, local welfare assist scheme and by using the new Crisis and Resilience fund as effectively as we can."
Cllr Ross added: "The fact that we are applying for EFS twice in two years is a difficult position for Trafford to be in, particularly given the fact we are recognised for our sound financial management, but we are not alone with other local authorities also reapplying."
What happens next?
The council tax increase must be formally approved at a meeting of full Council on March 5th before it takes effect.
