A year of surprises: council’s revenue, costs both balloon

THE Southland District Council received $7.4 million more revenue than it planned for in the past year, but this boost was tempered by unexpected costs.

The unbudgeted revenue came from things such as subsidies, grants, forestry and WasteNet income, while expenditure exceeded budget by $4.3 million, primarily due to flood damage and staff costs.

The figures were laid out in the draft annual report 201920, which will be presented to the council at its meeting on Wednesday.

The finance and assurance committee approved the draft report last week and recommended the council adopt it, following verbal acceptance from Audit New Zealand.

The annual report originally had to be adopted by October 31. However, Covid19 meant the council was given an extension until December 31.

Total revenue was $7.4 million over budget, primarily due to increased NZ Transport Agency subsidies ($900,000); forestry income ($400,000); grants ($2 million); forestry revaluation ($1.9 million); vested assets ($700,000); and the council’s share of income from WasteNet, not budgeted for ($1.3 million).

Outstanding building consent fees were considered by auditors to be deferred revenue of $900,000 rather than income.

At the meeting, Audit New Zealand associate audit director Dereck Ollsson said that related to 3288 outstanding consents.

The report states the consents were not initially reported by the council due to staff having ‘‘difficulty in ascertaining accurate data to support a value’’.

The draft report also states the council’s total expenditure was $4.3 million above budget.

At the committee’s meeting last week, chairman Bruce Robertson said the extra spend was predominantly due to emergency roading works as a result of the flooding in February, which cost the council $1.3 million.

It was also due to an increase of $1 million in employeerelated costs, which were primarily due to the need for additional building control staff, as well as new positions to enable the council to manage legislative changes.

If the council adopts the draft report at its meeting this week, the next step will be to release it to the community.