Nearly half of Warrnambool City Council’s operational budget is spent on its employees wages.
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Figures from the 2018/19 draft budget show the council is proposing to spend $33 million on wages, which is 47 per cent of its operational $70.4m budget, not including capital works of $18.8m.
Of Glenelg Shire Council’s total $52m budget, more than $22m is spent on staff which is about 43 per cent.
Moyne Shire Council’s budget is $45.5m, with the total wages costing $17.5m.
Corangamite Shire Council spends 30.5 per cent or $14.6m on wages, from its $48.1m budget.
About 21 per cent of the Southern Grampians Shire Council budget goes towards employee wages. Full time equivalent employee numbers for all councils remained relatively static.
Warrnambool City Council’s corporate strategies director Peter Utri said not all councils provided facilities or services for a region such as an art gallery, performing arts theatre or airport.
The council employs 732 staff, with 354 in service delivery roles (wages costing $28.9m) and 45 in non-service delivery roles ($4.2m).
“Warrnambool provides services and operates facilities that a number of other councils do not,” he said.
“For instance we operate a holiday park, a livestock exchange and a major tourist attraction in Flagstaff Hill. A number of councils outsource services. The costs are still paid for by council but are listed under a different budget line item.”
Mr Utri said under rate capping, regional city councils across Victoria had introduced more efficiencies into their operations.
“These efficiency measures – in the materials and services budget areas - have contributed to wages changing as a proportion of expenses,” he said. “The proportion at Warrnambool is comparable to similar municipalities.”
Mr Utri said while staff numbers remained static, the cessation of the Fun4Kids Festival and a reduction in project-based expenditure were among the measures that contributed to materials and services expenses falling from $25.3 million in 2017/18 to a forecast $22.9 million for 18/19. He said at the same time the council had retained staff in order to deliver services that had helped Warrnambool become Victoria’s most liveable city according to studies by Ipsos and Deloitte. The council endeavours to be as self-sufficient as possible in delivering services to the community, he said.
“As an example, rather than engage consultants to produce strategies and plans, these are usually developed in-house with considerable savings to ratepayers,” Mr Utri said. Another is having a website designer.