REDLAND City Mayor Jos Mitchell failed to back the first full Budget of her term, leaving two of her former Leading Change allies to rescue the financial plan with the support of three unlikely councillors after it was initially voted down in a five-hour marathon meeting.
After 14 months in the top job, Cr Mitchell did not present the 2025-26 Budget to the chamber on Monday – an unprecedented move in recent Redlands history – and later voted against it, including an organisational review she had personally initiated.
Instead, Crs Wendy Boglary and Lance Hewlett broke ranks to support the $503 million package, joined by Crs Paul Bishop, Peter Mitchell, Jason Colley and, in a late change of heart, Paul Golle – passing the Budget 6-5 in a dramatic reversal.
Deputy Mayor Julie Talty and Crs Shane Rendalls, Rowanne McKenzie, Tracey Huges and the Mayor herself voted against it.
Cr Boglary, who did not attend the earlier workshop where Mayor Mitchell reportedly gave in-principle support for a 7.89 per cent general rate rise, opposed key elements but voted in favour to ensure the city had a budget.
The Budget includes a 10.68 per cent increase in rates and charges, adding about $110 to the average household bill.
With the Mayor absent from the traditional Budget address, CEO Louise Rusan delivered it instead, revealing that without $23 million in cost savings, rates could have risen by as much as 18 per cent.
Savings were achieved through staffing efficiencies, smarter procurement and service delivery reviews.
The Budget forecasts a modest $700,000 surplus.
The meeting descended into chaos when councillors initially rejected the Budget by the same 6-5 margin, with Cr Rendalls’ abstention – counted as a “no” under Council rules – tipping the balance.
Debate grew so heated that Cr Talty moved a rare formal motion of dissent against the Mayor – an extraordinary step in Queensland local government, signalling deep divisions within the chamber.
The dissent related to Mayor Mitchell’s decision to uphold a point of order raised by Cr Bishop against Cr Talty’s conduct.
According to Cr Talty, the Mayor failed to clearly explain or articulate the basis of the ruling.
She said several councillors later admitted they did not understand what they were voting on at the time and were confused by the process.
A turning point came when Cr Peter Mitchell successfully moved an amendment calling for a July workshop to review the dysfunctional Budget process.
That prompted Cr Golle to flip his vote, allowing the Budget to pass on the second attempt – a reversal that underscored the fragile alliances in the chamber.
Cr Rendalls said the fractious process exposed a “leadership vacuum”.
“Councillors have not been brought together to identify priorities and review current spending patterns,” he said.
“This should have been done in the first months of the new leadership.”
Cr Colley agreed.
“It went for hours longer than it should have – because not everyone was committed to full and honest engagement during the budget development process,” he said. “Managing the hard-earned money of our residents is far too important an issue to politicise or to play games. Our community deserves better.”
The $503 million Budget includes a $151.68 million capital program, with nearly one-third dedicated to water, waste and wastewater infrastructure, and $43.32 million for roads, including upgrades to Kinross Rd and green seal projects across the Southern Moreton Bay Islands.
Other highlights include more than $4 million for new and renewed footpaths, environmental works at Judy Holt Park, and $8.5 million for a digital transformation initiative aimed at streamlining Council services.
The 2025-26 Budget at a glance:
- $503 million investment in Redlands Coast.
- An increase in general rates revenue of about $110.76 a year on average to the minimum general rate for a category 1a owner-occupied property, which is most of the city’s owner-occupied properties.
- Small budgeted operating surplus of $704,000.
- Capital expenditure program of $151.68 million.
- Total pensioner rebates of almost $3.5 million, with rates rebates of $335 per year for a full pensioner or $167.50 for a part-pensioner.
