Auckland Education & Skills CCO at Risk with Proposed 43% Budget Cut

COMET Auckland, a Council Controlled Organisation that works to drive systems change to make education and skills more effective and equitable across Auckland, is facing a 43% budget cut in Council’s proposed Long Term Plan.

Susan Warren, Chief Executive of COMET Auckland, says, “We know Council needs to make cuts, but the level of cut that has been proposed for COMET Auckland would severely limit our ability to fulfil our role, and longer term, it could threaten our existence altogether.”

Warren says COMET Auckland is already one of the leanest Council Controlled Organisations, punching above its weight with a small team of 5.4 people and total annual Council funding of $580,000. A cut of 43% would mean $260,000 less for COMET’s budget each year.

Warren says, “It is widely acknowledged that our small team makes a big impact to the city’s current and future potential. For example we are leading work around youth employability and Te Reo Māori revitalisation, both of which Council has identified as key areas of focus for the city’s economic and social growth. That valuable work would certainly be under threat if our budget was reduced.

“Our focus is improving education outcomes for the 1 in 5 young people who are not currently well-served by our education system, and now we are asking for some support too. We are encouraging those in the education and skills community to consider making a submission in our support as part of the Long Term Plan consultation.”

COMET Auckland has created its submission to Council outlining its objections to the budget cut. A summary of the submission’s key points and statements is available here.

Submissions can be made via email or by taking a survey on the council website. Council is also taking submissions via Twitter and Facebook using the hashtag #LTP2015 and by tagging @AklCouncil.

Submissions close at 4:00pm on 16 March 2015.

-ENDS-

© Scoop Media