1,400 more staff under Len

The Herald reports:

The wages bill at Auckland Council has topped $800 million and the number of fulltime staff has climbed to nearly 10,000.

The latest council figures show fulltime equivalent staff numbers have risen from 9678 to 9870 between the 2015 and 2016 financial years. This is a rise of 192 staff.

Salaries and wages have risen from $771 million to $803 million, although this includes $20 million of staff costs previously budgeted as operating costs.

The net increase of $12 million is an improvement on last year’s $63 million blowout in staff costs.

Since the Super City was formed in 2010, fulltime equivalent staff numbers have risen from 8207 and wage costs have climbed from $615 million.

This is all a choice. Ratepayers should vote for candidates who are determined to reduce costs and staff levels.