One of the significant benefits of the transition of North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service into the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority is that it provided scope to increase fire funding as part of the Mayor’s General Precept in a way that would not have been possible as a standalone Fire Authority.

In 2025/26, the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire reflected on the challenges and needs of the Service alongside the strategic plans to improve service delivery and financial stability, after years of under investment, and took the decision to increase the Fire Part of the Precept by £2 per month for a Band D property in York and North Yorkshire.

Because of this, the Service is now more financially secure than it has been for over 10 years. This will allow the Service to:

• Hold a level of reserves that are reflective of the financial risks that it might face.
• Ensure that borrowing levels are affordable.
• Provide scope for further investment in our estates, fleet, technology and firefighter safety

We are still in a position where we need to balance our ambition and improvement journey with maintaining financial security and sustainability. There is a continued requirement for improvements to be innovatively generated and prioritised, with clear leadership for delivery, rather than solely financial solutions. Investment needs to be carefully considered to ensure maximum impact and value for money, whilst still seeking opportunities for efficiencies when possible.

View our Medium-Term Financial Plan on the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority’s website for Policing, Fire and Crime.
Fire – Financial planning – York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority – Policing, Fire and Crime Team