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

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