Council agrees 2026/27 budget and strikes the District Rate

At a Special Council Meeting held on Thursday 12 February 2026 at The Grange, Omagh, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council agreed a service delivery budget of £46,306,311, a Capital Plan of £34,575,000 and a Non-Domestic and a Domestic District Rate for 2026/27.

Over recent months, substantial work has been undertaken to develop a balanced and sustainable budget that continues to fund key local services and deliver an ambitious capital programme designed to improve infrastructure, strengthen communities and enhance the wellbeing of residents. This work has taken place within an increasingly challenging and uncertain economic environment and in recognition of the cost of living pressures faced by local households and businesses.

The Council continues to manage its finances prudently. To minimise the financial impact on ratepayers and support long term financial sustainability, it remains focused on delivering services as efficiently and cost effectively as possible while actively pursuing external funding opportunities.

Councillors agreed a below‑inflation and lower‑than‑last‑year District Rate increase of 1.96% for domestic (residential) and non-domestic (business) properties. For an average home with a capital value of £115,000, this represents an increase of £10 per annum and for a non‑domestic property, an increase of £26 per annum for a business property with an average Net Annual Value (NAV) of £5,000.

The Council also approved a £34.6 million capital investment programme for 2026/27 as part of its wider 5‑year strategic capital investment plan. This programme will deliver improvements to local infrastructure and community facilities across the District. External funding of £13.5 million has been secured to support these projects in the 2026/27 plan, reducing the overall cost to ratepayers.

Proposed key capital projects include:

• Redevelopment of Fermanagh Lakeland Forum
• Waste Management projects
• Peace Plus Projects and Local Peace Plan
• Mid South West Projects
• Town Centre Regeneration – Enniskillen & Omagh
• Play Area refurbishment
• Strategic Capital Grants programme for local communities

The setting of the District Rate will generate approximately £46,982,324 in income to support the delivery of essential Council services in 2026/27 and to advance the priorities outlined in the Fermanagh and Omagh Community Plan 2030 and the Council’s Corporate Plan.

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council is responsible for a wide range of core and statutory services including waste collection and disposal, Environmental Health, Registration (births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships), Planning, Building Control and cemeteries. The Council also provides a variety of additional services that support and enhance community wellbeing, such as leisure and recreation facilities, theatres and tourism venues, street cleansing, public conveniences, and community and business support.

Rates bills, issued by Land and Property Services (LPS), comprise two parts; the District Rate, set by the Council, and the Regional Rate, set by the Northern Ireland Executive to fund services including health, education, roads, emergency services, policing and social services. Property rates are calculated by multiplying the property’s Net Annual Value (NAV) by both the District and Regional Rate.

The Council receives approximately 45% of the income collected through the overall rates bill, with the remaining 55% going to Central Government.

For more information on the Council’s 2026/27 budget and District Rate, including the “How We Use Your Rates” online tool and a helpful set of frequently asked questions, please visit the Rates section of the Council website.

For further information on rates visit the Land and Property Services section on the Department of Finance website at www.finance-ni.gov.uk.