Hampshire County Council’s projected overall financial shortfall has jumped from £132m to at least £175m.
The local authority held a consultation at the beginning of the year on how to deal with the projected £132m overspend. It received responses from 14,400 people.
However, it has now warned that if no new government support is forthcoming, its shortfall is likely to hit £175m.
The council says the increase is because demand and costs in children’s and adults’ social care, special educational needs and school transport have ‘continued to rise so much more than we could have anticipated.’
Leader of Hampshire County Council, Cllr Nick Adams-King, said he remains ‘positive for Hampshire and optimistic that we can find a solution to this challenge’.
