Toowoomba Regional Council says the region’s sustainable financial future will be secured following this week’s adoption of its 2025/26 Annual Budget.
Mayor, Geoff McDonald said careful planning and management of continued rising costs would prevent double-digit general rate rises for the majority of rateable properties across the Region, with changes made to the early payment discount also being considered.
“The continued rising cost to Council of delivering business-as-usual services to our Region has seen Council working extremely hard to adopt a sustainable Budget,” said Mayor McDonald.
“Without intervention, we may well have been looking at general rate increases around the 28% mark, but we’ve worked hard to ensure that won’t happen.
“We will factor in $14.75 million of savings in materials, services and operational expenditure when we adopt our 2025/26 Budget.
“This reduction will contribute to the way we will continue to cut the cloth to ensure our Council’s financial outlook remains sound, while delivering the essential services and facilities our growing community requires.”
The Mayor said the good news for ratepayers is that the Council’s forecast deficit for this financial year of $14 million has been revised down to an almost balanced budget which bodes well for 25/26 Budget consideration.
“Like any household budget, Council has been faced with increasing cost pressures on unavoidable expenses like electricity, insurance, fuel, and goods and services such as road making materials and general construction costs,” he said.
“I’m more than confident Council can continue its financially sustainable outlook thanks to continued careful financial management.”
The Council’s Special Meeting for the purposes of adopting its 2025/26 Annual Budget will be held on Wednesday 18 June at 9.30am.
