Tauranga City Council employs some 600 staff not including the CEO and staff of Bay Venues Limited. The funding of BVL a Council Controlled Organisation is as murky as a sewerage pond. A lay person would be confused over the amount of ratepayer dollars shovelled into this CCO. Essentially, council externalised staff and costs from TCC to the CCO. In 2014/2015, I believe 540 staff consumed $38 million in salaries and wages or 30 per cent of your rates. The Pre-Election Report 2016, has staff levels now at 600.
If this is correct then the annual wages and salaries will reach $42 million and sane ratepayers ask ‘how can this be?' The proposed ‘new white elephant' will be built to house 770 staff. How many million in the last 10 years has been spent on upgrading and enlarging council buildings? I understand any rebuild on the existing site will be on land subject to liquefaction in a serious earthquake.
A Mayoral candidate who will commit to promoting a council resolution directing the CEO to an ‘independent' audit of rationalising the staffing levels at TCC will get my vote!

MJ Anderson, Pyes Pa.