The cost of running Auckland

The Auckland region has 264 elected mayors, councillors and community board members for 1.3 million people - more than twice the 121 MPs needed to run a country of four million.

A Herald survey of the eight councils and Auckland Regional Council shows a workforce of 5482, gobbling up $337 million a year in wages, and eight chief executives costing nearly $2.2 million in salaries. Local politicians cost the region's 490,000 ratepayers a further $8.9 million in salaries and allowances.

In the past three years, the number of bureaucrats has risen from 4844 to 5482 - 638 extra paper shufflers. And since the last survey, the wages bill has gone up $73.4 million.

The figures do not include ad hoc council-owned and controlled bodies such as Watercare, Auckland Regional Transport Authority and The Edge. Auckland is also awash with committees, strategy documents, workshops, actions plans and forums.

The region has 62 libraries and three mobile libraries run seven different ways and 26 swimming pools, six of which are free in Manukau City.

The survey highlighted the difference in rates across the region, due in part to the way councils charge for water and rubbish services. Some include these in rates, others are user-pays. Fixed, flat charges to even out rates bills also vary between councils. So do business differentials.