FRANKSTON Council has ticked off its 2025/2026 budget, featuring a $73 million infrastructure bill and a $1.7 million “local support package” to ease cost-of-living pressures. The budget was approved by councillors at their meeting last week. An average rate rise of three percent was included, although a portion of that will be covered by a new differential rate on vacant properties in Frankston’s CBD.
Vacant land within the Frankston Metropolitan Activity Centre and along Nepean Highway will be charged a rate three times higher than the general rate. The average increase in revenue from residential ratepayers will be 2.24 percent, and for commercial ratepayers it will be 1.12 percent.
Council’s $73 million capital works program for the next financial year includes $20 million for the Frankston Basketball & Gymnastics Centre, $5.25 million for the Langwarrin Child & Family Centre redevelopment, $2.7 million for the Seaford Child & Family Centre redevelopment, $2.7 million for Peninsula Aquatic and Recreation Centre works, and just over $2.1 million for the Frankston Regional Arts Trail.
Around $8 million will be spent on roads and footpaths. Roads set to be targeted include McCormick’s Road from Ballarto Road to Hall Road and Skye Road from Frankston-Dandenong Road to McMahons Road. Shared user paths will be worked on at Hastings Road/ Clarendon Street between Yuille Street and Baxter Trail, Golf Links Road from Mt Erin Secondary College to Stotts Lane, Cranbourne-Frankston Road in Langwarrin, and Tower Hill Road in Frankston.
The mayor Kris Bolam said “this is a budget for everyone – delivering real support where it’s needed most, while investing in the people, places and services that make Frankston City a great place to live.”
“We’ve trimmed the fat, not the muscle, to find savings without sacrificing the community services our residents count on, or the public works that keep Frankston City moving forward,” he said. “Frankston City is undergoing a remarkable transformation, and we’re dedicated to sustaining that progress. Our goal is to propel the city forward while ensuring no resident is left behind. This ‘Stronger Together’ budget embodies our commitment.”
The cost-of-living relief package has expanded from a proposed $1.4 million to $1.7 million. (“Council unveils cost of living package” The Times 27/5/2025). It includes $50,000 for Peninsula Community Legal Centre for a “school lawyer” program in Frankston, $45,000 for Community Support Frankston, $30,000 to the Frankston Charitable Trust, and $50,000 in seed funding for the establishment of a foodbank and logistics service within Frankston. $210,000 will be split between 21 other relief organisations and support agencies.
$137,000 has been allocated for a discount voucher program for council-owned facilities such as PARC, Pines Pool, and the Frankston Arts Centre. A blanket twelve-month pet registration fee freeze has been put into place, and eleven service charges for residential and commercial residents up to a maximum of $56,895 have been suspended.
The budget highlighted the impact of “cost-shifting” on council’s bottom line. “Unfortunately, all ratepayers across the state will be impacted by the Victorian Government’s cost shifting measures, including the new Emergency Services and Volunteer Fund property tax that will replace the existing Fire Services Property Levy,” the budget read.
“Each council budget requires a careful balancing act, and it is through strong financial management that councillors have been able to propose this local support package without reducing vital community services and infrastructure expenditure.”
First published in the Frankston Times – 1 July 2025