Local Authority Statistics: December 2000 Quarter

Local authorities' operating revenue rose during the December 2000 quarter, according to Statistics New Zealand's latest Quarterly Local Authority Survey. Seasonally adjusted operating revenue in the December 2000 quarter was $969.5 million, an increase of 3.4 per cent compared with the September 2000 level of $937.3 million. The increase in revenue, due to increases in government grants and subsidies, rates, petrol tax, licence fees and fines, was partly offset by a decrease in the sale of goods and services and all other income.

Operating expenses at $894.7 million increased by 1.1 per cent in the latest quarter due to increases in depreciation and employee costs, and were partly offset by a decrease in interest paid. Purchases of goods and services have been relatively flat for the last four quarters and are unchanged for the December 2000 quarter.

Overall, there was a seasonally adjusted surplus of current revenue over current expenditure of $74.8 million in the December 2000 quarter. This is an increase of $22.9 million compared with the September 2000 quarter, but a decrease of $19.4 million over the December 1999 quarter, when a surplus of $94.2 million was recorded.

Brian Pink GOVERNMENT STATISTICIAN

END

© Scoop Media