West Coast councils offer value for money
22 AUGUST 2017
The West Coast councils come out well in Ratepayers’ Report, the Taxpayers’ Union’s 2017 local government league tables, launched today at www.ratepayersreport.nz. Ratepayers in Westland District pay the
region’s most expensive average residential rates bill at $2,185 per year, the only average residential rates bill on
the West Coast above the nationwide average for rural councils ($2,132).
Jordan Williams, Executive Director of the Taxpayers’ Union, says, “Westland District Council charges the highest average residential rates bill, has the highest operating costs
per ratepayer, and has the highest debt per ratepayer of all West Coast councils, but still compares moderately to
national averages. Grey District Council leads the way with what appears to be very efficient use of public money.”
“Similarly sized Grey District Council can afford to charge lower average residential rates, since it has the lowest
total operating expenses per ratepayer of all West Coast councils. Grey District also pays a lower proportion of its
staff a salary of over $100,000 compared to neighbouring Buller District and Westland District Councils, with only seven
percent of staff receiving such remuneration. This results in Grey District Council having the lowest staff costs in the
region, at $704 per residential ratepayer.”
“While Westland District Council has the highest debt per ratepayer in the region, third highest of all rural councils
across New Zealand, at least the Council has significantly more assets per ratepayer than both the Grey District and
Buller District Councils.”
"Ratepayers' Report is available online and free of charge so all West Coast ratepayers can judge for themselves the performance of their
local town hall."
Ratepayers’ Report available at www.ratepayersreport.nz
Note: All references to rates in the above comments, refer to residential rates.
Other findings relating to the West Coast region:
• Buller District Council charges the lowest average residential rates in the region, at $1,835 per year. Grey
District Council charges $1,894 and Westland District Council charges $2,185, the most expensive in the region.
• Westland District Council pays proportionally more staff a salary in excess on $100,000 than any other West
Coast Council, with 12.28% of staff receiving such remuneration.
• Grey District Council has the least assets per ratepayer ($61,823) and liabilities per ratepayer ($5,682) in the
region.
• Councils considered in this comparison are Buller District Council, Westland District Council, and Grey District
Council.
ends