Bay councils' staff costs rose almost $3.5 million last year. Hastings District, Napier City, Hawke's Bay Regional and Central Hawke's Bay District councils all had larger staff salary and wage increases, as shown by their annual reports for the 2015/16 year, totalling just under $3.5m. Hastings District Council had the largest increase in staff costs at $1.25m - a 4.6 per cent increase on the year before. This increase took total staff salary and wage costs to $28.17m. Central Hawke's Bay District Council's personnel costs rose from $3.27m to $3.78m - a rise of 15.5 per cent, the largest percentage rise of the councils.

Source: New Zealand Herald December 04, 2016 03:54 UTC