Brisbane City Council Lord Mayor, Adrian Schrinner says the organisation continues to deliver strong, responsible financial management, with the latest quarterly report confirming a balanced budget and reduced debt.
The first quarter report for the financial year, period ending September 2025, shows the Council is delivering a balanced budget that ensures residents continue to pay less but get more.
Lord Mayor Schrinner said the Council has consistently tackled cost-of-living pressures and the demands of a growing city. The latest review confirms net debt is set to fall by almost 20% to 2028–29.
“Our responsible financial management is reducing debt over the forward years and keeping Brisbane on a sustainable path,” he said.
“This stability stands in stark contrast to the Green–Labor Coalition of Chaos, whose unfunded promises would have forced massive rate hikes on Brisbane residents.
“We’ll protect residents from unnecessary costs through responsible financial management, while investing in the suburbs and delivering the essential services our growing city deserves.”
Key economic and financial figures in the Council’s quarterly budget update:
- Another operating surplus so far in this financial year, as a buffer against unexpected cost increases;
- Spending kept under control with an almost $56 million decrease in expenditure in the first quarter of this financial year;
- More than $734 million in revenue has been received, to help fund frontline services;
- Net debt held below the $4 billion annual budget at $3.5 billion, and projected to decrease further in each year going forward.
The Council says it has achieved this while investing in projects to keep Brisbane moving and delivering thousands of free and low-cost events that enhance our city’s lifestyle.
This includes:
- Introducing turn-up-and-go Brisbane Metro M1 and M2 services and Brisbane’s New Bus Network;
- Year-round mosquito spraying based on the advice of expert entomologists, with more than 1560 extra breeding sites recently treated;
- Delivering the most generous pensioner rebate in south east Queensland, with an additional $200,000 in pensioner rebates delivered in the first quarter of this financial year;
- Maintaining the suburbs with around 2600 additional potholes filled, an extra 10 roads resurfaced, three additional kerb and channel projects completed, one extra drainage project and four additional park projects completed compared to last year;
- Providing community spaces with 26 community halls and facilities available for hire, which attracted an additional 1640 bookings, while the Lord Mayor’s City Hall concerts attracted an additional 3500 attendees;
- Delivering the Beams Road Stage 1 road upgrade and starting works on Stage 2 in one of Brisbane’s fastest growing areas.
With Brisbane Metro, the Moggill Road Corridor Upgrade and the Kangaroo Point Bridge recently delivered, the Council says it no longer needs to purchase large amounts expensive construction materials for major works. This has contributed to a $93.8 million reduction in the ‘materials and services’ budget.
Under the Council’s Suburbs First Guarantee, more than 80% of the $4.1 billion budget is invested directly into Brisbane’s suburbs to make them better places to live, work and relax, said the Lord Mayor.
“We continue to manage the city’s finances responsibly and always put residents first because, we know it’s not Council’s money, it’s resident’s money,” he said.
“Our disciplined approach, along with completing major projects like Brisbane Metro, the Kangaroo Point Bridge and the Moggill Road Corridor Upgrade, is already delivering significant savings in materials and services, helping keep downward pressure on rates.”
