Local authorities' operating deficit improves

13 March 2015

Local authorities' operating deficit was $104.8 million in the December 2014 quarter, down $99.0 million from the previous quarter's deficit, Statistics New Zealand said today.

Operating income from core services for the December 2014 quarter was $2.1 billion, a 2.8 percent rise from the September 2014 quarter. This increase was driven by rises in investment income (up $23.4 million), and rates (up $18 million).

Operating expenditure for core services fell 1.9 percent to $2.2 billion in the December 2014 quarter. This fall was due to a $68.7 million decrease in purchases and other operating expenditure. Expenditure on interest (up $11.4 million), and depreciation (up $11.1 million) increased.

Find more information on local authorities' financial statistics (including information on individual councils) in Local Authority Financial Statistics: Year ended June 2013. This was released on 23 July 2014 alongside Government Finance Statistics (Local Government): Year ended June 2013.

For more information about these statistics:

• Visit Local Authority Statistics: December 2014 quarter

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