Brisbane residents slugged with rates rise to cover funding shortfall

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner says the $55 annual increase to rates from July 1 will be used to cover a shortfall in state and federal funding to ensure council continues to deliver key services.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner defended the move to increase rates for Brisbane residents from July 1, saying costs were among the lowest in the region. Picture: Steve Pohlner

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Brisbane residents will be hit with a $55 rate increase from July 1, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has announced.

The rate hike of 3.87 per cent for owner-occupiers is above Brisbane’s most recent annual inflation rate of 2.7 per cent.

Property buyers who purchase an inner-city unit from July 1 will also be slugged with a $100-a-year jump in their rates.

Mr Schrinner said the 2025-26 budget, which was unveiled on Wednesday, ensured Brisbane residents would “continue to pay less than other councils but get more, with 85 per cent of the budget invested in our suburbs where people live, work and relax”.

He also defended the move to increase rates, saying that costs were among the lowest in the region.

“This is a balanced and responsible budget that ensures Brisbane rates are the lowest in South East Queensland while still delivering the infrastructure and services a fast-growing city needs,” he said.

Brisbane residents will pay $240 less than current rates in Logan, $260 less than Ipswich residents and $563 less than those on the Sunshine Coast.

Ipswich City Council mayor Teresa Harding announced this week that a “dedicated infrastructure” levy would be introduced in this year’s budget.

Ipswich City Council mayor Teresa Harding announced this week that a “dedicated infrastructure” levy would be introduced in this year’s budget. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

Ms Harding, who will hand down Ipswich’s budget on July 1, said the levy would help combat a billion-dollar infrastructure funding gap.

“Ipswich is forecast to grow faster than any other council in Queensland in the next 20 years … yet we receive some of the lowest infrastructure investment of all southeast councils,” she said.

“We are in tough financial times and local government is not immune to this. As the Australian and Queensland governments tighten their budgets, councils are left carrying the can.”

Liberal National Lord Mayor Schrinner also took aim at state and federal governments, accusing them of “cost shifting” onto local council.

He said it had been a particularly difficult year for local government with costs rising “incredibly quickly”.

An extra $18m in funding was also announced for the Story Bridge to cover the costs of urgent repairs.

“This budget confirms we will continue to undertake essential maintenance on the Story Bridge while also planning for its long-term restoration,” he said.