Frankston Council Approves Budget: 2.75% Rate Rise, Five Business Grants Granted

Frankston City Council endorsed the 2026-2027 budget that includes a 2.75 percent rate rise along with an $83 million infrastructure program and a $1.7 million cost-of-living support package. The same meeting approved the first round of Entrepreneur Program grants totaling $50,000, with $10,000 awarded to each of five local businesses including ExploreABLE and Bella's Sourdough. Council also endorsed a feasibility study on storage and amenity supports for people experiencing homelessness after estimates of up to 30 people sleeping rough nightly and welcomed a delegation from its Sister City Wuxi while adopting a revised Sister City and Friendship City policy.

Rate changes and program funding

The rate rise applies to property owners across Frankston and forms part of the overall budget framework. The infrastructure program and cost-of-living package sit inside the same document. The Entrepreneur Program grants provide direct funding to the five recipient businesses, which operate locally and were selected as the inaugural recipients. These allocations follow the council's endorsement of the full budget package.

The feasibility study addresses storage and amenity needs for residents experiencing homelessness. It responds to the reported nightly figure of up to 30 people sleeping rough. The revised Sister City and Friendship City policy was adopted after council debate and followed the visit by the delegation from Wuxi.

Meeting schedule and next steps

Ordinary Council Meetings are held every third Monday at 7:00pm at the Civic Centre located at 30 Davey Street, Frankston. The next scheduled meeting is Monday, 11 May 2026. Further consideration of the endorsed items, including implementation of the budget measures and the feasibility study, is expected to occur through the council's standard processes at future meetings.

Residents who pay rates will see the 2.75 percent adjustment reflected in their notices. Local businesses awarded the grants can use the funds according to the program guidelines. The homelessness study will examine options for storage and amenity supports that could affect service delivery for those sleeping rough. The updated policy governs ongoing relations with the Sister City and any Friendship Cities.

All decisions were made at a regular council meeting. No additional timelines beyond the published meeting schedule were specified in the endorsements.