2017 Ratepayers’ Report published

The Taxpayers’ Union has published a 2017 update of “Ratepayers’ Report” – local government league tables last published in 2014.  This year’s tables cover all territorial authorities (excluding Chatham Islands Council).

The league tables can be reordered so you can sort by council type and the various metrics.

Notable findings include:

• Auckland Council is New Zealand’s second-most indebted local authority, with liabilities per residential ratepayer of $22,189. More than three times the national average, only Waitomo District Council has more debt per residential ratepayer ($24,600).

What that represents is $839 of everyone’s rates bill being used just to pay interest.

• Auckland Council has the second highest ratio of staff to ratepayers of New Zealand’s unitary authorities, with one member of staff for every 69 ratepayers.
• Auckland Council pays 15% of its staff a salary of over $100,000 per year. Of all of New Zealand’s city councils, metropolitan councils, and unitary authorities, only Palmerston North pays proportionally more of its staff a salary of over $100,000 (18%).
• The highest average residential rates in New Zealand are in Western Bay of Plenty ($3,234 per year).
• The lowest average residential rates in New Zealand is the Mackenzie District ($1,637 per year).

Data for the report was compiled by the Taxpayers’ Union, and was supplied to all councils for them to review prior to publication.  I know for Garrick Wright-McNaughton and the team who worked on the project, it’s been an enormous job. Thanks to those who generously join and donate to make it all possible.