Local Authority Rates Income Increases

19 December 2005

Local Authority Rates Income Increases

Rates, petrol tax, licence fees and fines increased $48.2 million to reach $851.7 million in the September 2005 quarter, Statistics New Zealand said today. This was a 6.0 percent increase compared with the June 2005 quarter and reflects the new level of rates struck for the 2005/06 year. This increase was largely offset by decreases in investment income (specifically dividends), and sales of goods and services and all other income. The fall in dividends is typical for a September quarter.

There was a small increase in the seasonally adjusted revenue and expenditure of local authorities in the September 2005 quarter. Total income increased $11.7 million compared with the June 2005 quarter, while total expenditure increased $0.6 million. This resulted in an increased quarterly surplus of $16.8 million, compared with $5.7 million in the June 2005 quarter.

Purchases of goods and services, grants and donations, and all other expenditure showed the largest increase of the expenditure items, rising $7.1 million (1.0 percent) from the June 2005 quarter result to reach $682.9 million.

Employee costs, which made up 23.0 percent of local authorities' current operating expenses for the quarter, rose $5.3 million (1.8 percent). Compared with the September 2004 quarter, employee costs rose 7.6 percent. These rises were partly offset by a 4.0 percent fall in depreciation and a 1.8 percent fall in interest paid.

Brian Pink

Government Statistician

ENDS

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