Salary Expense Blow-out at Nelson City Council

The Nelson Residents Association was very concerned to read in the Nelson City Council Draft Annual Plan for 2017/2018, currently out for consultation, that the proposed budget for staff expenses in 2017/2018 is $19.713 million.

The actual staff expenditure for the financial year to 30 June 2016, reported in the Annual Report, was $16.249 million.

No explanation has been provided in the Draft Plan as to why there has been such a significant increase in staff costs.

The President of the Nelson Residents Association, John Walker, says "a projected 21.3% increase in personnel costs in a 2 year period is astounding. We believe that the CEO owes Council and Councillors a detailed explanation of why this increase is occurring at a time when most businesses are achieving more with less."

"The Residents Association is concerned that we are seeing the signs of empire building, with an associated decrease in productivity. We urge concerned Nelson residents to submit to the Annual Plan and demand accountability for this blow-out. Submissions on the Draft Plan can be made up until 5pm on 18 April.

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