The information in this Hot Off The Press is compiled from data collected in the quarterly Local Authority Survey. All series have been seasonally adjusted with the exception of rates, dividends, and depreciation. For more information on seasonal adjustment, see the 'Technical notes' section.
Information for recent quarters is provisional until the publication of results from the 2009 annual Local Authority Census.
Quarterly operating results
Local authorities recorded a $69.9 million deficit in the September 2009 quarter. This deficit excludes non-operating items, such as extraordinary gains or losses and asset revaluations, which are included in the annual local authority results.
The deficit in the September 2009 quarter was the result of total operating revenue of $1,678.7 million and total operating expenditure of $1,748.7 million. The operating deficit in the September 2009 quarter is $30.9 million smaller than in the June 2009 quarter, when the deficit was $100.8 million.
Operating revenue
Total operating revenue for the September 2009 quarter was $1,678.7 million, up $21.0 million (1.3 percent) compared with the June 2009 quarter. The rise in operating expenditure was due to the following increases:
- rates, up $27.9 million (2.9 percent)
- sales of goods and services, up $17.2 million (6.4 percent)
- regulatory income and petrol tax, up $1.3 million (1.2 percent).
The upward contributions to operating expenditure were partly offset by the following falls:
- investment income, down $20.1 million (22.2 percent)
- government grants and subsidies, down $5.1 million (2.3 percent).
The fall in investment income was driven by a decrease in dividend revenue (down $22.6 million), which was partly offset by a rise in interest revenue (up $2.6 million).
Total operating revenue increased by $89.8 million (5.7 percent) between the September 2008 quarter and September 2009 quarter.
Rates
Total rates income for the September 2009 quarter was $993.0 million, up $27.9 million (2.9 percent) compared with the June 2009 quarter. Rates have now risen for five consecutive quarters.
Rates increased $67.3 million (7.3 percent) between the September 2008 quarter and September 2009 quarter.
Operating expenditure
Total operating expenditure for the September 2009 quarter was $1,748.7 million, down $9.8 million (0.6 percent) compared with the June 2009 quarter. This is the first quarterly decrease in operating expenditure since the December 2005 quarter, when it fell by 1.0 percent.
Downward contributions to operating expenditure in the September 2009 quarter came from:
- purchases of goods and services, down $9.7 million (1.1 percent)
- interest paid, down $1.8 million (1.9 percent)
- depreciation, down $0.7 million (0.2 percent).
A rise in employee costs of $2.4 million (0.6 percent) partly offset these downward contributions.
Total operating expenditure increased by $103.4 million (6.3 percent) between the September 2008 quarter and September 2009 quarter.
Purchases of goods and services
Expenditure on purchases of goods and services for the September 2009 quarter was $870.3 million, down $9.7 million (1.1 percent) compared with the June 2009 quarter.
Purchases of goods and services are now $36.2 million (4.3 percent) higher than in the September 2008 quarter.
For technical information contact:
Gareesh Madhas or Lyall Payne
Wellington 04 931 4600
Email: info@stats.govt.nz
Next release ...
Local Authority Statistics: December 2009 quarter will be released on 17 March 2010.