Brisbane City Council just announced its 2026-27 budget, which promises spending less where possible, and investing more where it counts, but it may not be that simple. We’re keeping our fingers crossed and, in the meantime, here are some of the highlights:
First off, Brisbane home owners will be facing a general 3.97% increase — on average, about $60 more per year — due to rising fuel costs and the ongoing war in the Middle East, although it’s still lower than Brisbane’s inflation (4.6%).
Council fees and charges will also increase by about 4.8% but, for the first time in almost a decade, the Council is not borrowing money, as this year’s $3.9 billion budget is about $200 million smaller than last year’s budget.
The big ticket item this year is the Story Bridge repairs, which amount to $1.35 billion over the next 6 years, and $3.6 billion — the equivalent of the new Brisbane Stadium — over 20 years. The Council is seeking an 80/10/10 split, in which the federal government would pay for 80%, the state would pay for 10%, and the Council for the final 10%.
Some of the recommended repairs include replacing ageing concrete and fittings, strengthening the concrete structure on the southern approach, steel repairs, removing lead paint and recoating the main span, as well as access and other various upgrades.
As you may know, Story Bridge’s footpaths were closed for a significant part of 2025, due to the risk of concrete falling. The business case for the renewal project therefore states that without the renovations, heavy vehicles and public transport would need to be removed from the bridge within 10 years, and it would be closed and deconstructed by 2046.
Unlike previous years, there were no major “carrots” included in the budget, but there are, however, some minor items that seek to alleviate some of the cost of living and its impact on quality of life, including expanding the Move Well outdoor wellness classes scheme, free off-peak transport for seniors and our beloved $2 summer dips.
Speaking of cost of living challenges, the Emmanuel City Missions Night Sanctuary for homeless people will be provided with $250,000 every 12 months for the next three years.
Finally, there will be $213 million invested into the Brisbane Metro, buses, CityCats and ferry network, as well as $110 million commited for road resurfacing all across the city.
All in all, it’s quite an austere budget, aiming to reduce the Council’s debt and to put the focus on projects related to the 2032 Olympic Games.
