This budget simulator consultation has now closed.

This budget simulator is just one way that we will be consulting on our budget. You can get all the latest news on the budget process and email us your comments and suggestions at any time by visiting our website at liverpool.gov.uk/budget2020. We are also holding a series of stakeholder events with businesses, voluntary sector, health and other partners, and young people (through our Schools Parliament). As you would expect we will also consult widely with people who are most directly affected by cuts.

More info

The last nine years have been extremely tough for Liverpool City Council. Since 2010 we will have taken £420.5 million out of our budget.

For next year we need to find a further £57.6 million of savings.

In total we will have lost £478 million in 10 years, more than the Council’s entire net budget in 2019/20.

A reduction of income on this scale inevitably means difficult choices about which services to retain or reduce. Regrettably, some services will have to be withdrawn altogether.

For the next year, 2020-21, we need to reduce our budget by £57.6 million.

Where do we go from here?

We are currently looking at all the available options - finding ways of reducing costs even further, looking at new ways to deliver services, stopping services altogether or changing the standard of services. Our priority is to protect services for the most vulnerable people in our communities and grow the economy by attracting new businesses to the city.

We want to hear from YOU on where you think money could be saved and how you would spend the money we do have. We want to know what’s important to you.

Through our simulator you can have a go at ‘balancing the budget’. See what happens if you cut or boost spending on different services – each cut you make will have serious consequences which will be highlighted on screen. There is an option to read more detailed information about the consequences by clicking on the link available.

There are six main blocks which are further broken down in to services the council provides. Again you can read a brief description about what these services do and the consequences of any budget cuts.

It’s important to understand that the consequences are cumulative. For example, if you opt to reduce a service’s budget by 15% you must assume that the consequences for both a 5% and 10% reduction in that budget will also apply.

Please think carefully before submitting your choices. At the end, you will have the chance to make suggestions, add comments or ask questions.

This budget simulator is just one way that we will be consulting on our budget. You can get all the latest news on the budget process and email us your comments and suggestions at any time by visiting our website at liverpool.gov.uk/budget2020. We are also holding a series of stakeholder events with businesses, voluntary sector, health and other partners, and young people (through our Schools Parliament). As you would expect we will also consult widely with people who are most directly affected by cuts.

You have until 10th January 2020 to take part. Click on the ‘create your budget’ button to start.

Please note: This budget tool simulates the difficult decisions that councillors will have to make. It is only a guide which helps us see what matters most to you. The service budgets used in this simulator are based upon the net budgets for each service area in 2019/20.