The Taxpayers’ Union is calling on New Plymouth District Council to rein in spending after the Council’s payroll grew nearly twice as fast as its headcount.
Taxpayers’ Union local government spokesman Josh Van Veen said:
"The Council’s draft Annual Report shows salaries, wages and related entitlements increased 5.5 percent to $64.6 million, while headcount rose just three percent, from 820 to 845. Meanwhile, national wage inflation sits at two percent."
"New Plymouth’s employment bill has jumped another $3.35 million in a single year. That is equivalent to the entire annual rates bills of 914 households."
"With payroll growing nearly twice as fast as headcount, ratepayers deserve to know what is driving the increase and what they are getting for it."
"Ratepayers cannot keep being treated as a bottomless source of funding for an ever-growing payroll. Before asking households for more, Council needs to justify where staffing costs are necessary and make cuts where they are not."
New Plymouth District Council payroll growing nearly twice as fast as headcount
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