Concerns raised over Akl Council wage bill

An Auckland councillor is worried about a blowout in the city's wage bill, with more than 1100 staff now raking in over $100,000 a year.

The concerns come as city councillors pore over the draft annual report.

It also outlines the council's debt levels, which Cameron Brewer says have grown by nearly three million dollars a day in the past twelve months.

He says ratepayers will be shocked at the salaries being paid to staff, with 120 people making at least $200,000 a year.

"I think it's out of whack with what we're seeing in the private sector and ratepayers are hurting out there. They have expectations that the mayor has got to deliver greater fiscal responsibility."

Mr Brewer says things aren't being helped pouring money into inner-city refurbishments and extending the waterfront tramline.

"That's what's having an impact on our borrowings and we need to get some control into the council finance department and that would start with the mayor cutting back some of his 'big ticket' projects."

He says questions also need to be asked over the importance of the city rail link.