Staff numbers up 258, with nearly 2,000 now earning over $100,000
Auckland Councillor Cameron Brewer has compiled and released the latest Auckland Council staff numbers and costs ahead
of councillors signing off the 2014/15 Annual Report next week.
“I’ve been releasing the official staff numbers and costs every year for the past five years and every year they climb
despite all the assurances and excuses.”
Mr Brewer says the latest draft 2014/15 Annual Report shows the total headcount of the Auckland Council Group (including
the CCOs) has increased by 258 people from 11,122 to 11,380 in the past 12 months.
At the same time, the number earning more than $100,000 has increased by 192 people from 1,720 to 1,912 including 146
now earning more than $200,000 and 36 earning over $300,000.
“Total staff numbers in 2011 were put at 9,300. They’re now at 11,380. In the same period council’s total annual staff
costs have risen by $177m - from $615m to $792m since the Super City.
“This Annual Report shows total staff costs for 2014/15 were budgeted at $729m but they’ve come in at $792m – that’s
$63m over budget and $62m more expensive than the previous year.
“I put up an amendment during the recent 10-year budget debates which would’ve held council staff costs for three years.
However a majority of councillors sadly voted it down. Instead, council is now forecasting its in-house wage and salary
costs to rise to nearly $1 billion in the coming years. It’s just staggering and completely unacceptable.”
“Five years ago the ratepayers of Auckland were promised that the Super City would do ‘more stuff with less staff’.
We’ll every year since without fail, Auckland Council’s staff numbers and costs have climbed as the Mayor has completely
squandered the opportunity to deliver the benefits of amalgamation.
“The next administration will need to get on top of these endless escalations as the current Mayor has been quite happy
to let them run away. Staff costs and staff numbers will be a major issue during next year’s local body election and so
they should be,” says Mr Brewer.
Auckland Council’s official headcount count and wage and salary costs:
2011 c.9,300 & $615m
2012: 10,157 & $670m
2013: 10,616 & $693m
2014: 11,122 & $730m
2015: 11,380 & $792m
2013
$100k-plus 1,500
$200k-plus 113
$300k-plus 23
2014
$100k-plus 1,720
$200k-plus 139
$300k-plus 34
2015
$100k-plus 1,912
$200k-plus 146
$300k-plus 36
Ends