Residents are being invited to have a go at setting Dorset Council’s budget via a new online simulator.
Launched on 4th November, the simulator will give people four weeks to have a go at setting the council’s multi-million budget for themselves.
The online budget simulator will set out how much the council will have to spend against rising costs and an increased demand in services.
It will give residents a taste for the complex and difficult decisions councillors must make when setting the budget.
Councillor Simon Clifford, Cabinet Member for Finance and Capital Strategy, said: “Setting a balanced budget is one of the most difficult tasks we face as councillors. Dorset’s older population means we have higher demand for adult social care, and our rural geography adds cost to delivering services.
“This simulator gives residents a chance to see the reality behind the headlines – It’s all about trade-offs, choices, and listening to resident about what they want and need.
“People using the simulator might choose to spend more on looking after older people in care, but that could mean spending less on fixing potholes. And if they prioritise potholes, they might face even tougher decisions, like closing libraries or recycling centres.
“Every pound spent in one area means less in another. It’ll be interesting to see how the public approach setting their own budgets”
Dorset Council delivers around 450 services to 380,000 residents but receives less than 2% of its income from central government. Most funding comes from council tax and business rates.
The simulator will give residents the chance to adjust spending across key services such as social care, waste collection, road maintenance, housing and libraries – and see the impact of their choices.
They can also say whether they would increase council tax plus highlight the services that matter most to them.
Councillor Nick Ireland, Leader of the Council, added: “As with many councils across the country, we are under growing financial pressure, with adult and children’s social care services facing the greatest challenges.
“But as a rural authority we have also been chronically underfunded by government for years.
“This means we are far more reliant on raising our income from council tax than urban councils.
“We are lobbying government hard to get a fairer deal for Dorset but, in the meantime, we want to be open about the financial pressures we face.
“This simulator not only gives residents the chance to explore the reality of budget-setting but will also help us understand what matters most to our communities.”
The simulator is designed to be quick and easy to use, taking around 10–15 minutes to complete.
Residents can use the simulator to increase or decrease spending in different service areas.
They will be able to see the potential impact of their choices and choose a council tax level
This simulator is not a vote or formal consultation, but an engagement exercise to help the council better understand residents’ priorities and values.
The simulator is live until 2 December 2025 at: https://simulator.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
An offline version is also available in Dorset libraries.
