Council tax may be going up once again next year as the Thames Valley police and crime commissioner looks at the new budget.
Government funding for Thames Valley Police is expected to be received in December and alongside this, the funding settlement allows police and crime commissioners to increase council tax.
Last year, there were increases of up to £14 (for a Band D property) in Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire.
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Police and crime commissioner Matthew Barber is asking residents to share their views on how they would like to see the precept (the bit of council tax for policing) is used in the 2026/27 budget.
Police and crime commissioners are going to be abolished in 2028, the Government announced last week.
But for now, Mr Barber has a statutory duty to set the policing budget and to engage residents on how their precept is spent.
He said: "As police and crime commissioner, it is my responsibility to ensure that Thames Valley Police has sufficient resources to effectively prevent and investigate crime, support victims and protect communities.
"Setting the policing budget remains a complex process of balancing priorities. Policing is operating in a challenging economic environment and I am also acutely aware of financial pressures households continue to face.
"I expect to receive Thames Valley Police's funding allocation from central government in December which will assume an increase in council tax as well as police forces making efficiency improvements.
"Thames Valley Police continues to make productivity and efficiency improvements to balance the policing budget with an additional £15m of savings this year, and further savings planned for future years.
"Despite these financial pressures, the force is delivering 68 additional neighbourhood officers this year which is on top of the increase of 150 over the previous two years.
"Residents rightly expect an exceptional service from their police force and my role is to ensure that through good financial choices next year's policing budget can deliver this, address local concerns and priorities and achieve value for money for taxpayers.
"By sharing your views, I can better understand the policing priorities of residents in keeping communities safe. You can complete my local crime survey at https://www.thamesvalley-pcc.gov.uk/get-involved/survey/."
Alongside the ongoing local crime survey, residents are able to attend regular public performance and accountability meetings where the policing budget is discussed and reviewed.
The survey can be completed at https://survey.alchemer.eu/s3/90503915/OPCC-public-consultation or by visiting the PCC website.
If you would like to share your views on the policing budget for 2026/27, please complete the survey by noon on Friday, January 2, 2026.
A file image of police officers. (Image: Essex Police)
Policing minister Sarah Jones told the House of Commons last week that the PCC model has shown little sign of improving confidence in policing.
She said less than a quarter of voters turned out to vote for them in the 2024 elections, and two in five people are "unaware PCCs even exist".
Ms Jones announced that mayors and council leaders would take up the responsibilities of policing arrangements instead.
Mr Barber described the decisions as "disappointing" and stated his staff had "achieved a great deal to improve the accountability and scrutiny of policing" during his time in the position.