Council Employee Costs Hit $207m

Wyndham Council collected more from rates, spent more than $207 million on employees and recorded a rise in unpaid fines as hundreds of millions of dollars flowed through its books last financial year.

The Council’s newly released 2025/26 financial and performance reports detail its revenue, expenses and performance across the financial year.

Council recorded $911.6 million in total revenue and $547.4 million in expenses, leaving a reported surplus of $364.2 million.

However, that figure does not mean Council finished the year with $364 million in spare cash. More than $314 million of its revenue came from non-monetary contributions, including assets transferred to Council.

Rates Generate More Income

Rates and charges generated $327.9 million, up $25 million from $302.9 million the previous financial year.

That included $253.7 million from general rates and $53.5 million from service rates and charges.

Council also received $26.7 million from statutory fees and fines, while user fees brought in another $72.9 million.

Overall revenue was $141.6 million above budget, largely driven by non-monetary contributions coming in $113.2 million higher than forecast.

$207 Million Employee Bill

Employee costs reached $207.3 million, up from $205.7 million the previous year and slightly above the $206 million budget.

Council spent another $187.6 million on materials and services, while depreciation totalled $127.7 million.

Staff turnover also climbed from 7.5 per cent to 10.4 per cent.

The performance report says employee departures were 40 per cent higher than the previous year, with turnover reaching its second-highest level since 2022/23.

Unpaid Fines Rise

Council recorded a $4.23 million allowance for impairment losses, almost double the $2.3 million recorded a year earlier.

It was also $1.49 million above budget.

Council attributed the higher provision for bad and doubtful debts mainly to unpaid traffic and local law infringements.

At the same time, revenue from infringements and associated costs increased from $9.8 million to almost $13 million.

Growth Adds Pressure

Despite the large reported surplus, Council’s own performance statement warns of continuing pressure on its long-term financial position.

It points to Wyndham’s rapid population growth increasing demand for infrastructure and services while rising costs place further pressure on Council finances.

Council estimates Wyndham’s population is now close to 348,000 and projects it will approach half a million people by 2050.