Brisbane City Council announces 'responsible' austerity measures in its 2025/2026 budget
Brisbane City Council has handed down a high-tax but low-spending budget while accusing the state and federal governments of "cost shifting" onto local councils.
The council will hike general rates by 3.87 per cent in 2025/26, despite Brisbane's annual inflation figures falling to 2.7 per cent in March this year.
It comes as the council released its "financially responsible" annual plan and budget for the financial year on Wednesday morning.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the council's priority was keeping expenditure low at a time when construction costs were high and government support was flagging.
"It's been a really difficult few years for all levels of government, but particularly local government," Cr Schrinner said.
"Costs have gone up incredibly quickly, we've seen that in the inflation rates, and we've seen that in construction costs."
This year's austere $4.1 billion budget is about $200 million smaller than the budget handed down in 2023.
It comes after the council slashed $470m from last year's $4 billion budget, resulting in upwards of 500 job losses and contract cancellations.
However, this year's budget also marks a small but meaningful surplus with the council's $3.9 billion debt decreasing by $145 million.
It is the first time that the council has managed to pay down its debt in the past six years.
The council says it aims to decrease its debt by a further $134 million in the next 12 months.
At a rate of $145 million per year, it would take 25 years to fully pay off council's debts.
Other fees and charges have also increased over and above current inflation, to an average of four per cent.
For example, the cost of ongoing dog registration will rise from $59.25 a year from this financial year to $61.60 next financial year — an increase of 3.96 per cent.
The cost of building certification for minor alterations to a home, such as a new deck or a patio roof, will rise from $2,706.65 to $2,814.90 — a 3.99 per cent increase.
Cr Schrinner said despite the rates increases, Brisbane continues to have the lowest rates in south-east Queensland.
About six protesters were thrown out of council chambers for yelling at the lord mayor during his budget speech.
The protesters yelled "don't toll the Story Bridge" while Labor opposition councillors held up signs echoing the sentiment.
The signs reference an independent report handed down this year that suggested the council may need to introduce tolls to repair the bridge if the state and federal government did not offer funding.
The budget was light on big ticket items, but did contain a few major announcements.
The first is a city-wide rollout of free green bins, used for mulch and other garden waste.
The bins will be available to every Brisbane home at no additional charge, and those who currently have green bins will face no extra costs.
Council also aims to have at least one pedestrian footpath on the Story Bridge open by the end of the year.
Cr Schrinner said $18 million had been budgeted for the derelict bridge over the next 12 months, including $6 million on footpath repairs and $5 million on a business case.
In another key announcement, the Emmanuel City Mission homeless charity will receive $500,000 to create homeless shelters.
The budget also unveiled plans to turn the former Pine Mountain Quarry into a rehabilitated koala habitat as part of a Mount Coot-Tha precinct plan.
Located next to the Whites Hill Reserve, the 30-hectare site is currently used as a council depot.
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