Council’s staffing cost has gone up by $175,000 since July, while bird attacks had more than doubled the cost of a light installation according to a financial update to councillors.
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The third quarter financial performance report, which will be presented to the next council meeting, revealed “employee benefits and on-costs” had risen to $42.63 million.
The figures came after general manager Peter Thompson revealed two of three directors had been given substantial pay rises last year, taking the annual salary bill for the trio to about $722,000.
Revenue was up by $8 million thanks largely to grants, offsetting an almost $5 million rise in expenses.
A comparison of council’s wage bill with similar-sized councils for the 2016/17 financial year found Wagga spent 67 per cent of rates and charges on staff, while Albury spent 57 per cent. Tamworth spent slightly more of ratepayers’ money on staff at about 69 per cent.
Griffith, the next largest city in the Riverina, spent more than 72 per cent of rates and charges on staff.
Other items of interest in the financial performance report were a $22,000 repair bill for the Victory memorial Gardens tree lights. According to the report, cockatoos had done considerable damage to the $20,000 lighting system that was switched on just six months ago, more than doubling the total cost of the lights.
Council staff also requested an additional $53,000 to complete the food organics processing contract, a $12,000 airport car park upgrade, $47,000 for stormwater drainage works on Plumpton Road and $930,000 for sludge removal at the Narrung Street treatment works.
Councillors will discuss the report on Monday.