West Sussex faces £147m schools deficit and £24.5m overspend

Summarised from 2 outlets · 6 reports · Updated 23 Sept, 22:44 · Archive

West Sussex County Council faces a £147m schools deficit and £24.5m budget overspend despite £183m government funding.

The council will have a £147m deficit on its Dedicated Schools Grant by the end of 2026/27 even after receiving £183m in government allocation. Rising social care costs for children and adults are driving a predicted £24.5m budget overspend for the same period. The council is also owed more than £158m in unpaid invoices.

West Sussex faces £147m schools deficit and £24.5m overspend — Image: The Argus

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How it is being reported

West Sussex Council owed more than £158m in unpaid invoicesWest Sussex County Council is owed more than £158m in unpaid invoices, councillors have been told.The Argus · 23 Sept, 11:42
West Sussex County Council reveals £158m unpaid bill as debt puts ‘huge impact’ on cash flowWest Sussex County Council is owed more than £158m in unpaid invoices, councillors have been told.Chichester Observer · 23 Sept, 11:06
Council predicting budget overspend of £24.5 millionThe increasing cost of social care for children and adults has seen West Sussex County Council predicting a budget overspend of £24.5m for 2026/27.The Argus · 22 Sept, 15:55
West Sussex County Council warns of £24.5m budget overspend as social care costs riseThe increasing cost of social care for children and adults has seen West Sussex County Council predicting a budget overspend of £24.5m for 2026/27.Chichester Observer · 21 Sept, 17:20
West Sussex faces £147m schools deficit despite £183m government allocationA £183m allocation from the government will still leave West Sussex County Council with a £147m deficit on its Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) by the end of 2026/27.The Argus · 21 Sept, 16:37
West Sussex County Council still faces £147m schools deficit after £183m government fundingA £183m allocation from the government will still leave West Sussex County Council with a £147m deficit on its Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) by the end of 2026/27.Chichester Observer · 21 Sept, 14:27

In this story: West Sussex County Council · West Sussex

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