Liverpool Voters Decide £45 Annual Transport Levy for Bus and Rail

The Liverpool Transport Levy Referendum asks city residents to approve or reject a measure that would authorise Liverpool City Council to impose an additional precept on council tax from April 2027. The ballot affects all 230,000 households liable for council tax within the Liverpool City Council area.

National changes to local government funding formulas, set out in the 2025 UK Spending Review, have reduced central grants to combined authorities by 8 per cent. Liverpool officials have therefore placed the levy question before voters rather than absorbing the shortfall through existing budgets.

Daily Effects for Liverpool Residents

Policy analysts at the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority have calculated that the levy would generate £10.4 million annually. This sum is projected to fund 12 additional bus routes serving Speke, Norris Green and Walton, plus platform extensions at Lime Street and Edge Hill stations. Local advocates note that households in Band C properties would see the largest absolute increase, while Band A residents would pay £32 extra each year.

Community voices from tenants associations in the city centre have highlighted that shift workers reliant on late-night buses would gain two new services between the docks and Wavertree. The legislation states that revenue cannot be diverted to road maintenance or debt servicing, limiting its use to the listed transport projects.

Timeline and Verification Process

Ballot papers will be posted to registered electors on 15 August 2026, with results declared on 5 September. The government says the policy will take effect only if more than 50 per cent of votes cast are in favour. Council tax collection notices issued in March 2027 will include the new line item if the measure passes.