The Schrinner Council’s latest financial review has confirmed it has maintained a balanced budget while delivering even better services in Brisbane’s suburbs.
Keeping costs down for Brisbane residents while delivering better services in our suburbs are key priorities for Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner.
Brisbane residents will continue to pay the lowest rates in south east Queensland despite the city currently experiencing the nation’s highest inflation rate.
The Mid-Year Budget Review and Quarterly Financial Report confirm the Schrinner Council is keeping costs down by:
• Maintaining an operating surplus as a buffer against unexpected cost increases.
• Keeping spending under control with an almost $11.2 million decrease in expenditure since the June 18 Budget
• Net debt on track to reduce by a further $114 million to $3.43 billion (below the $4 billion budget).
• Ongoing strong financial management and the completion of major projects has helped reduce spending on Materials and Services by $370,000.
The financial highlights detailed in the reports come as the Schrinner Council continues to deliver better services in Brisbane’s suburbs, including:
• Increased bus patronage by 27 per cent following the introduction of Brisbane’s New Bus Network and the Brisbane Metro bus rapid transit system, in conjunction with 50 cent fares.
• A $4 million increase in footpath maintenance.
• An almost 20 per cent increase in asphalt laid for road resurfacing.
• Completed 2900 extra tree jobs compared to the same time last year.
• Enhanced kerb and channel weed control (major roads have increased from 5 to 6 sprays a year and minor roads from 4 to 5 sprays).
• Increased mowing services in cemeteries from 18 to 26 cuts for general cemeteries and 32 cuts for special high-profile cemeteries.
• Increased general mowing with an additional 3805 hectares of grass cut.
• Attracted more than 66,000 customers to new secure online Council account.
• Sprayed an additional 9716 mosquito breeding sites.
• Increased immunisation clinic hours from 80 to 108.5 hours per four weeks (26.25 per cent increase).
• Expanded library-based clinics from 10 clinics (60 hrs) to 13 clinics (99 hrs) per month.
• More than doubled summer reading program participation (from 2511 participants to 6050).
• Expanded Library Lovers’ Day event with city-wide activities.
• Rolled out 150,000 new green bins and citywide green bin service.
• Increase development applications by six per cent to date this financial year following More Homes, Sooner amendments.
• An additional 6160 guests attending the Lord Mayor’s City Hall concerts.
The Schrinner Council’s balanced budget and even better services for Brisbane residents comes despite Federal Government spending driving up the city’s inflation to the highest in the country.
While the Schrinner Council’s balanced budget continues to deliver the lowest rates in south east Queensland, the Federal Government’s increased spending has helped drive up interest rates.
The 2025-26 Mid-Year Budget Review and Quarterly Financial Report demonstrate the Schrinner Council has successfully maintained the cheapest rates in the region despite rising costs.
Key economic and financial challenges since the June 18 Budget include:
• Brisbane inflation almost doubling from 2.7 per cent at Budget time to 5.2 per cent today.
• Massive increase in electricity prices following the removal of the energy rebates.
• Labor’s now axed BPIC inflicting costs to Queenslanders of over $20.6 billion over the next five years and increasing project costs up to 25 per cent.
• Non-residential construction prices for infrastructure like roads and bridges in Queensland have increased by a further 6.2 per cent.
• Councils continuing to deliver 33 per cent of services despite receiving just three cents in every tax dollar.
More than 80 per cent of Brisbane’s $4 billion budget continues to be invested in the suburbs to make them even better place to live, work and relax.
Meanwhile, councils around Brisbane charge residents anywhere between $317 and $702 more per year in rates.
The Schrinner Council’s balanced budget is in stark contrast to the Green/Labor Coalition of Chaos which made $3.5 billion in big spending promises during the 2024 election and continue to argue for massive spending increases, which would drive up the rates of every single Brisbane resident.
Labor’s so-called leader failed to produce properly costed policies at the election and was last year caught out not knowing the difference between debt and liabilities, demonstrating Labor’s inability to manage Australia’s largest council.
Quotes attributable to Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner:
“Our responsible financial management continues to ensure Brisbane residents pay the cheapest rates in south east Queensland.
“Maintaining a balanced budget also means we can deliver even better services in our suburbs while continuing to reduce debt.
“That means better public transport, better roads, better library services and access to immunisations, more mowing, mosquito spraying and weed control.
“All these extra services help ensure Brisbane gets even better.
“At a time of high inflation and rising costs, our priority is simple: spend within our means to help households avoid unnecessary costs now and in the future.
“Driving down debt is the responsible thing to do to make sure we have capacity for the future.
“Our mid-year budget demonstrates you can keep rates low while continuing to invest in better transport, improve our lifestyle and improve the services people rely on every day.
“Big spending promises sound easy in opposition, but they would deliver massive rate hikes for Brisbane families.
“Our city remains in a strong financial position because we strike the right balance between keeping costs down and keeping Brisbane moving.”
