An exodus of staff from the Dunedin City Council's city property department under its former manager has fuelled a budget blowout of more than $2 million, it has been confirmed. The extra cost meant the department's property costs budget was in the red by nearly $1.5 million, and the bill was still climbing, she said. Of 12 office staff in city property in 2015, eight had since left, mostly because of bullying and other problems within the department, one former staff member said. The ''high degree of turnover'' within the city property department was a ''significant contributing factor'' to the budget problems, she said. It also meant other staff were being moved into roles for which they lacked appropriate skills.

Source: Otago Daily Times March 11, 2018 16:49 UTC