Confidence wanted in council management of funds

Thanks for publishing your article (Town centres, wharf and drainage get budget allocation, Peninsula News, April 20).

I draw attention to this excerpt from Central Coast Council's operational plan: "If the economy moves into recession there will be impacts on the Central Coast economy which will likely impact the revenue base and also place cost pressures on operations".

When Gosford and Wyong councils merged, how many staff were made redundant?

What's the total number of staff at the new council?

What's the annual wage and salary cost?

What is this cost as a percentage of revenue?

Nothing is published but my intel is its 1500 full time staff and 900 contractors, (ie. the second largest council in NSW).

I'm certainly not opposed to a strong council employing locals, but as a ratepayer I would like some confidence that my funds are not a very generous "work for the dole" arrangement for back office staff to shuffle papers around while enjoying picturesque views from a skyscraper overlooking Brisbane Water.

Our council has huge revenues and I certainly hope they manage funds to ensure these very important capital works are delivered.

Email, 21 Apr 2020

Luke Chell, Woy Woy

EDITOR'S NOTE: Staffing costs are published in the Council's annual report, available on its website.