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2025-26 Brisbane Budget

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Keeping costs down. Keeping Brisbane moving.

Lord Mayor's message

Our 2025-26 Budget strikes the right balance between keeping costs down and keeping Brisbane moving

With many households still feeling the pressure of higher living costs, we’ve worked hard to deliver a balanced Budget that helps keep costs down for Brisbane residents.

By keeping costs down, we will deliver the cheapest rates in South East Queensland.

We’ve done this while investing a record amount into subsidising public transport and delivering Brisbane Metro and Brisbane’s New Bus Network.

We’re also rolling out green bins to every eligible household that wants one, installing new decking on the Story Bridge footpaths and developing a long-term plan to protect and enhance the much-loved Mt Coot-tha precinct.

This Budget is about delivering real value for Brisbane residents, with 85% of this year’s Budget to be spent in the suburbs – enhancing our incredible lifestyle and building a better Brisbane.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner with trees and view of Story Bridge behind

Adrian Schrinner
Lord Mayor

Brisbane Budget by numbers

We’re committed to spending within our means so we don’t add unnecessary costs onto Brisbane residents now and in the future.

$298 million

Budget surplus

21%

Reduction in net debt, from $3.7 billion to $2.9 billion

$210 million

Record public transport subsidy

$226 million

Deliver better customer services

$47 million

Discounts and rebates

85%

Suburbs-First Guarantee

Budget highlights

Mt Coot-tha precinct

A long-term plan to protect and transform the Mt Coot-tha precinct.

An older couple walking with hiking poles on a track in Mt Coot-tha Reserve.

Pine Mountain Quarry

Rehabilitation of the Pine Mountain Quarry around the operational depot.

Aerial view of the Pine Mountain Quarry site

Emmanuel City Mission

$500,000 donation to help Emmanuel City Mission establish a 24/7 homeless shelter in West End.

Man cooking burgers on a barbeque at a Homeless Connect event

Green waste recycling bins

Citywide rollout of green waste recycling bins to every eligible household that wants one.

Woman disposing of vegetation in a green lidded wheelie bin.

Coffee Carts in Parks

New Coffee Carts in Parks program, encouraging coffee carts and food trucks in 100 park locations.

A man and woman collecting food from a food truck at an event at Victoria Park

Olympic Corridors tree planting

$1.9 million for a two-year Olympic Corridors tree planting program.
 

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Keeping costs down

Brisbane owner-occupied houses will pay just $1.14 extra per week in rates or an additional 3.87% on average, delivering the cheapest rates in South East Queensland.

By striking a balance, we are delivering a balanced Budget that ensures Brisbane residents pay less than other councils but get more.

Two women walking down Fish Lane at South Brisbane looking at an artwork on a wall

Brisbane residents will pay up to $563 less per year than other South East Queensland councils.

Brisbane will continue to have the most generous pensioner rates rebate in South East Queensland, increasing by $50 to $1,298 per year.

The $60 on-time rates payment discount will continue in 2025-26, which saved residents more than $16 million in 2024-25.

  • $164.7 million on City Planning, Suburban Renewal and Economic Development
  • $141.3 million on Community and the Arts
  • $226.4 million on Customer Services
  • $733.5 million on Environment, Parks and Sustainability
  • $508.8 million on Finance and City Governance
  • $899.8 million on Infrastructure
  • $1.428 billion on Public Transport

Keeping Brisbane moving

Brisbane is one of Australia’s fastest-growing cities. In 2025-26, we’re keeping Brisbane moving with a record public transport subsidy and investing even more into building better roads.

Brisbane is the only council in Australia to subsidise public transport and an additional 160,000 bus services will be delivered every year as part of Brisbane’s New Bus Network.

Adelaide Street tunnel under construction

  • Increasing funding for road resurfacing, including Ipswich Rd, Toombul Rd, Vulture St and Waterworks Rd
  • Busting congestion by reviewing suburban clearways, including Lutwyche Rd, Bowen Bridge Rd, Abbotsford Rd and Wynnum Rd
  • $4.4 million to progress the roll-out of Smarter Suburban Corridors
  • $6.9 million to install a replacement deck on the Story Bridge footpath
  • $6.2 million for Safer School Precincts in Kedron, Mansfield, Indooroopilly and Wynnum-Manly
  • Suburban intersection upgrades, including Croydon St and Sylvan Rd in Toowong, and Azalea St, Pine Rd and Archerfield Rd in Inala
  • The commencement of the next stage of Brisbane Metro and Brisbane’s New Bus Network
  • Completion of the new Adelaide Street Tunnel
  • Progressing the business case into the expansion of Brisbane Metro

Australia's lifestyle capital

Brisbane has the best lifestyle in Australia and we’re determined to keep it that way.

The 2025-26 Budget will invest $3.49 billion as part of our Suburbs-First Guarantee to create even more to see and do in the suburbs and ensure Brisbane’s lifestyle keeps getting better.

A family walking through market stalls at the Brisbane Powerhouse markets at New Farm

  • 25% increase in funding for 128 suburban and multicultural festivals
  • Continuing the Lord Mayor's Better Suburbs grant program
  • Standing up for Brisbane on crime with a $16.1 million investment for safer suburbs
  • Upgrading suburban pools in Newmarket, Runcorn and Parkinson, as well as the Valley Pool
  • $69.5 million for Brisbane Libraries, including the commencement of the Bulimba Library upgrade
  • Continuing our $2 Summer Dips Initiative
  • $2.89 million for Community and Sport Partnerships, including Annerley Football Club, Brighton District Football Club, Football Queensland, Souths Sports Club and Holland Park Hawks
  • Suburban community spaces in Wavell Heights, Moggill and Keperra to help growing clubs store equipment

Better suburbs

Brisbane is Australia’s lifestyle capital and continues to capture global attention as one of the best places in the world to visit.

With Brisbane riding a wave of international popularity as a tourism destination and 7 years until the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, now is the time to start planning for the next chapter of Brisbane’s transformation.

Bradbury Park, Kedron

  • $5.2 million for new district sports parks in Pallara and Ellen Grove
  • Progressing the Brighton Foreshore upgrade
  • $89.4 towards better parks across the suburbs, including a new park in Greenslopes
  • Commence planning for a new destination playground in Carindale
  • New visitor facilities at Brisbane Koala Bushland in Burbank
  • Expansion of Queen Street Mall along Albert Street in conjunction with Cross River Rail
  • Finalising the Wynnum, Manly and Lota foreshores masterplan
  • Reviewing low-medium density residential areas to deliver more homes, sooner
  • Maintaining 100% infrastructure charge waivers for community housing providers that deliver social and affordable housing
  • Upgrading suburban shopping strips in Nundah, Salisbury and Indooroopilly

Download the Annual Plan and Budget 2025-26

Front cover of Brisbane City Council Budget Summary 2025-26 document.

For quick facts, download the summary.

For detailed plan and budgeting information, download the full document.

Read the Lord Mayor's speech when the budget was presented to Council.

information outline

Need help with interpreting? 

If you need an interpreter, phone 131 450 and ask to speak with Brisbane City Council on 07 3403 8888.

Supporting documents

Helpful links

Annual Plan and Budget

Each year Council produces annual reports and financial documents informing how we conduct the business of running our city, as well as goals and plans for Brisbane's future.

Learn more
Brisbane Vision 2031 document on an office desk, along with other papers, computer screens and stationary.

How is the budget presented?

Read the minutes from the last Council budget meeting and find out how you can watch a livestream of the next one.

Look up Council meetings
Brisbane City Hall on a clear day viewed from King George Square.