West Sussex County Council's share of council tax to rise by £77 for average household

If approved, the change would see Band D bills rise by £77.67 to £1,633.41.

This does not include the precepts from Sussex Police and the relevant district or borough councils.

The change, which includes a two per cent precept for adult social care, was endorsed during a meeting of the cabinet on Tuesday (January 31) and will go to full council for the final nod on Friday February 17.

Jeremy Hunt, cabinet member for finance & property, told the meeting that the council’s budget for 2023/24 would be balanced without the need to dig into reserves.

But the outlook for the future was not so clear.

Between 2024/25 and 2026/27, the budget gap could total £104million, depending on council tax increases.

Raising council tax by the maximum amount each year from 2024/25 would reduce that gap to £52.8m over the same period.

A report to the meeting said: “Developing this budget has been extremely challenging, set within the context of great uncertainty from the ongoing cost of living crisis and economic conditions.”

The revenue budget for 2023/24, which covers the day-to-day costs of running the council, will be set at £708.8m, an increase of £60.5m (9.3 per cent) compared with 2022/23.

The capital programme, which covers things such as roads and schools projects, will stand at £124.883m.

The council will receive £157m in government funding, which Mr Hunt said was more than had been anticipated.

He added: “The additional funding will only cover about half the pressures we see coming down the line.”