Client: Society of Local Government Managers (SOLGM)

Date: August 2005

Authors: Mathew Arcus; Dr Ganesh Nana

BERL has constructed forecasts for price level change adjustors for local authorities (LAs) to use in their budget processes consistent with their Long-term Council Community Plans (LTCCP).  The approach has been agreed after discussion with, and presentations to, SOLGM and the Office of the Auditor-General (OAG).  Earlier reports to SOLGM and OAG outline the approach and methodology, and discuss alternative adjustors and reasons why the particular adjustors were chosen for forecasting.

BERL has forecast one adjustor for each of the following six categories for the period to 2017, consistent with the current horizon for the LTCCPs.

1.         roading and transports costs.

2.         property, reserves and parks costs.

3.         water - clean and dirty - including pipeline costs.

4.         staff costs.

5.         energy costs.

6.         other – adjustor for local government costs.

A copy of the report can be found at the link .

BERL#4397