Embargoed until 10:45am – 17 March 2008
Local authorities' total revenue rises
Local authorities’ seasonally adjusted operating revenue increased 6.9 percent in the December 2007 quarter, Statistics
New Zealand said today. Total investment income, including interest and dividend revenue, contributed more than a third
of the $104.3 million increase in total operating revenue.
A significant increase in dividend revenue is typical for a December quarter. Revenue from rates increased by $17
million or 1.9 percent. There were also rises for sales of goods and services and all other income (up $22.3 million or
9.1 percent), government grants and subsidies (up $16.9 million or 7.4 percent) and regulatory income (up $8.4 million
or 9.6 percent).
Total seasonally adjusted operating expenditure increased 4.2 percent in the December 2007 quarter, following an
increase of 2.9 percent in the September 2007 quarter. Expenditure on purchases of goods and services, grants and
donations, and all other expenditure contributed most of the total increase of $63.3 million. Increases in interest
paid, depreciation and employee costs also contributed to the rise in total expenditure.
Overall, local authorities recorded a surplus of $70.6 million in the December 2007 quarter, against a $23.7 million
surplus in the September 2007 quarter.
Geoff Bascand
Government Statistician
17 March 2008
ENDS