Murweh Shire Council adopts $60.01 million budget for 2026-27

Published on 22 July 2026

Murweh Shire Council adopts $60.01 million budget for 2026-27

Modest 5% rate rise, no new borrowings and a $26.7 million capital works program headline a budget built to balance community needs against rising costs

Murweh Shire Council has formally adopted its 2026-27 budget at a special meeting of Council, committing to a $60.01 million financial plan that continues investment in local infrastructure and services while keeping rate increases modest for ratepayers facing cost-of-living pressure.

The budget follows months of workshops between Councillors and Council staff and includes $21.9 million in capital grants and subsidies, with Council contributing $4.7 million of its own funds and $220,000 from plant disposal proceeds toward the $26.7 million capital works program.

2026-27 BUDGET AT A GLANCE

Rates held to 5% amid rising costs

With rising costs of materials, contractors, insurance and finance being felt in every Council budget across Queensland, Murweh Shire Council has held its general rates and charges increase to 5% for 2026-27 — equating to less than $2 per week for an average residential property on the minimum general rate. Council will continue to offer a 10% discount on rates and charges levied (excluding interest, the fire levy and excess water charges), with pensioner remissions remaining at $400 per annum.

$26.7 million capital works program

Of the capital works program, 43% will build new assets for the Shire’s growing communities — almost entirely the Aurora Estate Stage 2 development — 28% is committed to renewing existing assets, and 29% will go toward upgrades. No new borrowings are planned, with Council continuing to repay its existing loans ($227,642 in 2026-27).

Key projects include:

• ●Aurora Estate Stage 2 land development — $11.39 million
• ●Plant Replacement Program — $2.55 million
• ●Wills Street, Charleville Refurbishment — $1.5 million
• ●Continuation of the Augathella CED Scheme — $621,610
• ●Rural Roads Reseal Program — $623,452
• ●Charleville Airport Reseal Project — $600,000
• ●Urban Streets Reseal Program — $408,670

Where the money comes from — and where it goes

Government grants and subsidies continue to represent the largest share of Council’s operating income at 59%, including flood damage funding — well above what is generated through rates, fees and charges, recoverable works, interest and other income combined. Council remains committed to growing its own-source revenue through fees and charges, works delivered on behalf of other parties, interest on cash reserves and rental income from Council buildings.

On the expenditure side, the budget continues to fund essential services including road, water and sewerage maintenance, waste management, and recreation, hall and library facilities. Of Council’s operating expenses, 28.3% is spent on employee benefits, 49.4% on materials, services and contractors, and 21.8% represents depreciation, reflecting the scale of the asset base Council maintains on behalf of the community.

KEY SERVICES FUNDED IN 2026-27 (EXCLUDING DEPRECIATION)

Building financial resilience

Council is continuing to build its cash reserves as a deliberate, ongoing priority, working toward a target of six months of operating cash in reserve. This will allow Council to absorb a shock — such as a spike in fuel and bitumen prices, a natural disaster, or another unforeseen event — without compromising the services the community relies on.

Special Budget Meeting Minutes(PDF, 515KB)