Rates & spending · Sunshine Coast Council
Budget review locks in 2026 - 27 financial framework, but rate impact is not stated
Sunshine Coast councillors voted 7 - 2 to adopt the amended budget, including a 10-year forecast, debt policy and changes to the Minor Capital Works Program.
Reporting from public council minutes. How this article was prepared
Sunshine Coast Regional Council has adopted an amended 2026 - 27 budget through its first budget review, with the amended financial framework passing 7 - 2 and Councillors C Dickson and D Law voting against. The package covers council spending, capital works, debt, financial sustainability and documentation for rates, utility charges and levies.
The resolution adopts updated financial statements for 2026 - 27 and the following two financial years, a capital works program, a 10-year long-term financial forecast, financial sustainability measures and the 2026 - 27 Amended Debt Policy. It also endorses amendments to the Minor Capital Works Program.
Rates and utility-charge documentation adopted on 1 June 2026 is noted as applying to the budget. That material includes the Revenue Policy, the percentage change in rates and utility charges compared with the previous budget, the Revenue Statement, the 2026 - 27 rates and charges, three strategic levy policies and the Prescribed Services Charge Plan No. 4.
The public minutes supplied for the 17 September meeting do not state that percentage or give a consolidated dollar figure for the change in rates or utility charges. They therefore do not show what the typical household bill will be under the adopted framework.
The meeting papers list a capital program deferrals document alongside the amended Minor Capital Works Program, but the resolution itself does not identify the affected projects or revised delivery dates. Residents tracking a particular project would need to consult those documents.
The motion was moved by Councillor E Hungerford and seconded by Councillor J Broderick. The minutes record the meeting as confirmed on 15 October 2026.
What deserves a closer look
The source records that rates and utility-charge documentation includes a percentage-change measure, but the supplied public resolution does not state the measure's actual value.
The source lists a capital program deferrals attachment, while the resolution does not identify individual deferred projects or revised delivery dates.
Questions for follow-up reporting
What percentage and dollar change in rates and utility charges applies for 2026–27 compared with the previous budget?
Which capital projects are listed for deferral, and what are their revised delivery dates?
What specific changes to debt, financial sustainability measures or the 10-year forecast are contained in the adopted financial statements?
Check the record
These passages were matched to the source text. Read them in context in the original minutes.
Resolution OM26/65 adopts Appendix A as tabled as Council's amended 2026–27 budget, including financial statements, a capital works program and a 10-year forecast.
Carried unanimously. ORDINARY MEETING MINUTES 17 SEPTEMBER 2026 Sunshine Coast Regional Council OM Minutes Page 10 of 16 This is not an official copy of Council's Minutes 8.4 BUDGET REVIEW 1 2026-27 File No: Council Meetings Author: Coordinator Financial Services Finance and Commercial Partnerships Appendices: App A - 2026-27 Amended Budget Financial Statements App B - 2026-27 Amended Minor Capital Works Program Attachments: Att 1 - 2026-27 Capital Program List of Deferrals Council Resolution (OM26/65) Moved: Councillor E Hungerford Seconded: Councillor J Broderick That Council: (a) receive and note the report titled "Budget Review 1 2026-27" and (b) adopt Appendix A as tabled, pursuant to sections 169 and 170 of the Local Government Regulation 2012, as Council's amended budget for 2026-27 financial year incorporating: Amended budget for 2026-27 financial year and the next two financial years on an accrual basis: (i) the statement of income and expense (ii) the statement of financial position (iii) the statement of changes in equity (iv) the statement of cash flow (v) Capital Works Program The long-term financial forecast for a period of 10 years: (vi) the statement of income and expense (vii) the statement of financial position (viii) the statement of changes in equity (ix) the statement of cash flow (x) Capital Works Program (xi) the relevant measures of financial sustainability (xii) the 2026-27 Amended Debt Policy (c) note the following documentation applies as adopted 1 June 2026 (i) Revenue Policy (ii) the total value of change, expressed as a percentage, in the rates and utility charges ORDINARY MEETING MINUTES 17 SEPTEMBER 2026 Sunshine Coast Regional Council OM Minutes Page 11 of 16 This is not an official copy of Council's Minutes levied for the financial year compared with the rates and utility charges levied in the previous budget (iii) the Revenue Statement (iv) the rates and charges to be levied for the 2026-27 financial
8.4 Budget Review 1 2026-27; Council Resolution OM26/65, paragraphs (a) and (b)
Open original minutes ↗Appendix A is described as incorporating financial sustainability measures and the 2026–27 Amended Debt Policy.
and (b) adopt Appendix A as tabled, pursuant to sections 169 and 170 of the Local Government Regulation 2012, as Council's amended budget for 2026-27 financial year incorporating: Amended budget for 2026-27 financial year and the next two financial years on an accrual basis: (i) the statement of income and expense (ii) the statement of financial position (iii) the statement of changes in equity (iv) the statement of cash flow (v) Capital Works Program The long-term financial forecast for a period of 10 years: (vi) the statement of income and expense (vii) the statement of financial position (viii) the statement of changes in equity (ix) the statement of cash flow (x) Capital Works Program (xi) the relevant measures of financial sustainability (xii) the 2026-27 Amended Debt Policy (c) note the following documentation applies as adopted 1 June 2026 (i) Revenue Policy (ii) the total value of change, expressed as a percentage, in the rates and utility charges ORDINARY MEETING MINUTES 17 SEPTEMBER 2026 Sunshine Coast Regional Council OM Minutes Page 11 of 16 This is not an official copy of Council's Minutes levied for the financial year compared with the rates and utility charges levied in the previous budget (iii) the Revenue Statement (iv) the rates and charges to be levied for the 2026-27 financial
8.4 Budget Review 1 2026-27; paragraph (b), including items (xi) and (xii)
Open original minutes ↗The quoted clause lists rates, utility-charge, revenue, strategic levy and Prescribed Services Charge Plan No. 4 documentation as applying as adopted on 1 June 2026. It refers to a percentage change in rates and utility charges without stating its value.
of cash flow (x) Capital Works Program (xi) the relevant measures of financial sustainability (xii) the 2026-27 Amended Debt Policy (c) note the following documentation applies as adopted 1 June 2026 (i) Revenue Policy (ii) the total value of change, expressed as a percentage, in the rates and utility charges ORDINARY MEETING MINUTES 17 SEPTEMBER 2026 Sunshine Coast Regional Council OM Minutes Page 11 of 16 This is not an official copy of Council's Minutes levied for the financial year compared with the rates and utility charges levied in the previous budget (iii) the Revenue Statement (iv) the rates and charges to be levied for the 2026-27 financial year and other matters as adopted 1 June 2026 (v) the Strategic Environment Levy Policy (vi) the Strategic Arts and Heritage Levy Policy (vii) the Strategic Transport Levy Policy (viii) Prescribed Services Charge Plan (No. 4) 2026-27 Financial Year and (d) endorse the amendments to the Minor Capital Works Program as detailed in Appendix B. For: Councillor R Natoli, Councillor J Broderick, Councillor T Landsberg, Councillor J Natoli, Councillor W Johnston, Councillor E Hungerford and Councillor M Suarez.
8.4 Budget Review 1 2026-27; paragraph (c)
Open original minutes ↗The motion endorsed amendments to the Minor Capital Works Program and was carried with seven councillors for and two against, with Councillors C Dickson and D Law recorded against.
4) 2026-27 Financial Year and (d) endorse the amendments to the Minor Capital Works Program as detailed in Appendix B. For: Councillor R Natoli, Councillor J Broderick, Councillor T Landsberg, Councillor J Natoli, Councillor W Johnston, Councillor E Hungerford and Councillor M Suarez. Against: Councillor C Dickson and Councillor D Law. Carried. Council Resolution Moved: Councillor J Natoli Seconded: Councillor J Broderick That Council grant Councillor E Hungerford an extension of time for five minutes to speak further to the motion.
8.4 Budget Review 1 2026-27; paragraph (d) and recorded vote
Open original minutes ↗The item lists the 2026–27 Amended Minor Capital Works Program as Appendix B and the 2026–27 Capital Program List of Deferrals as Attachment 1. The motion was moved by Councillor E Hungerford and seconded by Councillor J Broderick.
Carried unanimously. ORDINARY MEETING MINUTES 17 SEPTEMBER 2026 Sunshine Coast Regional Council OM Minutes Page 10 of 16 This is not an official copy of Council's Minutes 8.4 BUDGET REVIEW 1 2026-27 File No: Council Meetings Author: Coordinator Financial Services Finance and Commercial Partnerships Appendices: App A - 2026-27 Amended Budget Financial Statements App B - 2026-27 Amended Minor Capital Works Program Attachments: Att 1 - 2026-27 Capital Program List of Deferrals Council Resolution (OM26/65) Moved: Councillor E Hungerford Seconded: Councillor J Broderick That Council: (a) receive and note the report titled "Budget Review 1 2026-27"
8.4 Budget Review 1 2026-27; appendices and attachments
Open original minutes ↗The minutes record confirmation on 15 October 2026.
13 MEETING CLOSURE The meeting closed at 12:00pm. Confirmed 15 October 2026. ____________________ CHAIR
Meeting closure and confirmation line
Open original minutes ↗Source record
Reporting from Sunshine Coast Regional Council’s public minutes for its Ordinary Meeting of 17 September 2026. The minutes record that they were confirmed on 15 October 2026.
Key facts from the minutes
- Council adopted Appendix A as tabled as its amended 2026 - 27 budget under sections 169 and 170 of the Local Government Regulation 2012.
- The budget includes a 10-year long-term financial forecast, financial sustainability measures and the 2026 - 27 Amended Debt Policy.
- Amendments to the Minor Capital Works Program were endorsed, with a capital program list of deferrals listed as an attachment.
- The budget motion passed 7 - 2, with Councillors C Dickson and D Law recorded against.
- The resolution notes rates, charges, revenue and strategic levy documentation adopted on 1 June 2026, but gives no overall rates or utility-charge figure in the public resolution.
Why it matters
- The amended budget sets council’s 2026 - 27 financial and capital works framework, while the public minutes do not provide a consolidated rate or utility-charge figure for households.