The Government's keeping tabs on how much councils are spending and where the money's going.

Yearly performance metrics are out for each council, showing rates rises, revenue, debt levels, expenditure, and whether the budget's balanced.

Monitoring comes as the Government considers a rates cap.

Horowhenua mayor Bernie Wanden says successive years of underfunding and borrowing has contributed to the region's notable debt levels.

"Obviously, there will be nuances and context that will not be able to be read into the figures. I think, give it a bit of time, we'll get used to this and the tables could provide some useful information."

LISTEN ABOVE

The Government's keeping tabs on how much councils are spending and where the money's going.
Yearly performance metrics are out for each council, showing rates rises, revenue, debt levels, expenditure, and whether the budget's balanced.
Monitoring comes as the Government considers a rates cap.
Horowhenua mayor Bernie Wanden says successive years of underfunding and borrowing has contributed to the region's notable debt levels.
"Obviously, there will be nuances and context that will not be able to be read into the figures. I think, give it a bit of time, we'll get used to this and the tables could provide some useful information."
LISTEN ABOVE

With a straight down the middle approach, Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive on Newstalk ZB delivers the very latest news and views to New Zealanders as they wrap up their day.

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Bernie Wanden: Horowhenua mayor on the Government keeping tabs on local council spending

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/664cabdd-cfdd-40cb-b4c4-b32b00503913/transcript