Auckland Council’s $45 million PR bill for 234 comms staff

The Herald reports:

Auckland ratepayers are picking up a $45.6 million tab to employ 234 communication staff at Auckland Council and five council-controlled organisations, according to a leaked review.

A “confidential draft” of the review, obtained by the Weekend Herald, has uncovered a huge blowout in communication salary costs at four council bodies.

Between 2013 and 2017, salary costs soared by 75 per cent at Auckland Council, 87 per cent at Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (Ateed) and 56 per cent at Auckland Transport.

You know if maybe the Council could cope with less than 234 spin doctors, then they wouldn’t have to stick up petrol tax by 10 cents a litre to fund their activities.

According to the communications review, a previous business case to improve communications at Auckland Council in 2014 largely failed. The 2014 goal was to reduce the number of communications staff to 92. Staff numbers have increased to 105.

Out of control.