Central Coast Council approves higher elected-member fees and $300,000 fuel allocation

Central Coast Council has approved budget provision for higher Mayoral and Councillor fees and superannuation from 1 July 2026, and added $300,000 to its 2025 - 26 fuel budget.

The council also authorised the Chief Executive Officer to incur up to $600,000 from unrestricted funds if the situation deteriorates further. The additional fuel allocation and possible drawdown form part of financial measures considered against continuing pressure on fuel supplies and costs.

Councillors adopted the March 2026 Quarterly Budget Review Statement, including proposed amendments to the 2025 - 26 budget. They also adopted changes to the 2025 - 26 Capital Works Program and noted that those changes will affect the indicative program in later years.

The budget changes will affect the council’s adopted Long-Term Financial Plan and will be addressed in its next update. The decision did not specify the projects or dollar value behind the capital works changes.

The financial measures apply across the Central Coast local government area, including Wyong, Woy Woy, Erina and Lake Haven. They affect planned elected-member costs, fuel funding, unrestricted funds and the council’s capacity to fund services and capital works.

The council is also working through the assumptions in its Draft Long-Term Financial Plan 2026 - 2036. Its financial scenarios rely on about $11.1 million in efficiency savings by 2031 - 32.

Before the long-term plan is finally adopted, councillors requested further information about the governance of those savings, confidence in the targets, risks, contingencies and reporting. The requested detail is intended to clarify the basis for the projected savings and their effect on council finances.

The fee and superannuation provisions take effect at the start of the 2026 - 27 financial year. The council’s next Ordinary Council Meeting is scheduled for 29 June 2026.