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NorthernTerritoryGrantsCommission Annual Report 2017/18
Northern Territory Grants Commission Annual Report 2017/18 — iii
The Hon. Gerry McCarthy MLA Minister for Housing & Community Development Parliament House DARWIN NT 0801
Dear Minister
In accordance with section 16 of the Local Government Grants Commission Act, I have pleasure in presenting to you the Annual Report for the Northern Territory Grants Commission on its activities for 2017-18. Included in the report are the financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2018.
Yours sincerely
Dr David Ritchie Chair 9 October 2018
Foreword ................................................................................................................................................................ 3
The Northern Territory Grants Commission ........................................................................................................... 4
Background ...............................................................................................................................................................4
Relevant legislation ..................................................................................................................................................4
Organisation and People ......................................................................................................................................... 5
Membership ..............................................................................................................................................................5
Members’ profiles .....................................................................................................................................................6
Administration and staffing ......................................................................................................................................8
Summary of Activities 2017/18 ............................................................................................................................... 9
Executive Officers’ meeting ......................................................................................................................................9
Visits/Public hearings to local governing bodies .....................................................................................................9
Financial data............................................................................................................................................................9
Annual financial statements .....................................................................................................................................10
Submissions ..............................................................................................................................................................10
Payments 2017-18 ....................................................................................................................................................10
Estimated entitlement 2018-19 ................................................................................................................................10
Entitlement 2017-18 .................................................................................................................................................10
Cash entitlement 2018-19 ........................................................................................................................................10
Communication with councils ..................................................................................................................................11
Council letters of advice ...........................................................................................................................................11
Revenue and expenditure assessments of local governments................................................................................11
Recommendations .................................................................................................................................................. 12
Chairman’s letter ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 12
Recommendation Schedule 2018-19 .......................................................................................................................................................... 15
1 — Contents
Contents
Schedules ............................................................................................................................................................... 16
Schedule 1 — Population 2018-19 ............................................................................................................................16
Schedule 2 — Cost adjustors and key drivers 2018-19 ............................................................................................17
Schedule 3 — Road lengths 2018-19 ........................................................................................................................18
Schedule 4 — Reconciliation of local government income and expenditure ...........................................................19
Schedule 5 — Local government income 2016-17 ................................................................................................... 20
Schedule 6 — Actual local government expenditure 2016-17 ................................................................................. 21
Schedule 7 — Assessed revenue 2016-17 ................................................................................................................ 22
Schedule 8 — Summary standardised revenue ....................................................................................................... 23
Schedule 9 — Standardised expenditure ................................................................................................................. 24
Schedule 10 — National share of financial assistance grants 2018-19................................................................... 25
Schedule 11 — Visits/Public hearings to local governing bodies ............................................................................ 25
Schedule 12 — Schedule of local governing bodies who failed to lodge their 2016-17 annual financial
statements by the date specified ..................................................................................................... 28
Appendices ............................................................................................................................................................. 29
Appendix A — National principles for the allocation of general purpose and local road grants ............................ 29
Appendix B — Methodology and formula factors ..................................................................................................... 30
Appendix C — The Australian Classification of Local Government (ACLG) ............................................................. 35
Appendix D — Northern Territory local governments by classification .................................................................. 36
Appendix E — Northern Territory map of local government areas ......................................................................... 37
Appendix F — Auditor-General Independent Auditor’s Report to the Minister for Housing and Community Development Northern Territory Grants Commission Year Ended 30 June 2018 ........................... 38
Appendix G — Auditor-General Independent Auditor’s Report to the Chief Executive of the Department of Housing and Community Development on the Statement of Payments made to Local Governing Bodies by the Northern Territory during the year 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018 .......................................... 41
Northern Territory Grants Commission Annual Report 2017/18 — 2
I am pleased to present the 32nd annual report of the Northern Territory Grants Commission. This report contains information on the distribution of funding provided to the Northern Territory’s local governing bodies under the Commonwealth’s Local Government (Financial Assistance) Act 1995, as well as details on the objectives, performance and future directions of the Commission. The report contains information on programs and performance during the year to assist public understanding and scrutiny of the Commission’s operations and functioning.
The major focus for the Commission is to determine general purpose and local roads grants for each Northern Territory Local Government council. The Commonwealth’s May 2018 budget, indicated that there would be again, a brought forward payment. Consequently $17 263 910 of the 2018-19 grants were brought forward and paid to councils in June 2018.
The Commission is required to distribute all funding on the basis of resident population, as determined by the ABS. The latest available ABS estimate of resident population as at 30 June 2017 (released 28 April 2018) revealed that 10 out of 17 councils experienced decreases in their population count. These decreases had a direct negative consequence for the amount of grant funding available to affected councils. To manage risks generated by this situation, the Commission introduced a financial “buffer” to those councils most seriously affected.
The following is discussed in greater detail in the “Summary of Activities 2017-18” section of the report.
• National Conference
• Executive Officers’ Conference; and
• Visits and Public Hearings
On behalf of the current Commission members, I wish to record our appreciation for the valuable cooperation and assistance that we have received during our work throughout the year from local governing bodies, and in particular, those visited during the course of the year.
The Commission is grateful for the executive support and assistance provided by Ms Donna Hadfield, Local Government and Community Development Division of the Department of Housing and Community Development, combined with the assistance, and services provided by the Department’s regional offices.
I would also like to acknowledge the efforts of my colleagues Ms Meeta Ramkumar, Mr Damien Ryan and Mr Steven Hennessy. Their assistance has been very much appreciated.
Dr David Ritchie Chairman
3 — Foreword
Foreword
Background
On 1 July 1986, the Australian Government began a process of yearly appropriations to the state/territory governments for distribution as financial assistance grants to local governing bodies within the respective jurisdictions. A subsequent review of the enabling legislation led to the current Act, the Local Government (Financial Assistance) Act 1995.
Under section 6(1) of the Act, the Australian Government Minister for Local Government, after consulting with the relevant state Ministers and with bodies representative of local government, must formulate national principles.
In formulating the national principles, the Minister:
a. is to have regard to the need to ensure that the allocation of funds for local government purposes is made, as far as practicable, on a full horizontal equalisation basis; but
b. must ensure that no local governing body will be allocated an amount in a year that is less than the amount that would be allocated to the body if 30 per cent of the amount to which the state/territory is entitled, in respect of the year, was allocated among local governing bodies on a per capita basis.
The Local Government (Financial Assistance) Act 1995 also repeated a requirement from an earlier Act that each state and the Northern Territory have a Local Government Grants Commission. In accordance with that requirement, the Northern Territory legislated for a statutory, independent Commission, the Northern Territory Grants Commission, in June 1986.
Role of the Northern Territory Grants Commission
The Commission is established as an independent statutory authority under the Local Government Grants Commission Act. Its primary role is to recommend the allocation of the financial assistance grants provided by the Australian Government for Northern Territory local governing bodies in the form of general purpose grants and local roads grants.
Relevant Legislation
The Northern Territory’s Local Government Grants Commission Act also provides for the appointment of Commission members, and specifies the general operations of the Commission, including the annual reporting requirements.
The Australian Government’s Local Government (Financial Assistance) Act 1995 provides for the basis of the allocation of financial assistance by each Local Government Grants Commission to its respective local governing bodies in its state and/or the Northern Territory.
The national principles formulated by the Australian Government Minister are to guide the respective Local Government Grants Commissions in the allocation of funds to local governing bodies within their own jurisdictions.
The number of national principles currently stands at seven – six applying to the allocation of general purpose grants and one applying to the allocation of local road grants. The national principles are detailed at Appendix A.
Northern Territory Grants Commission Annual Report 2017/18 — 4
The Commission
Membership
The Local Government Grants Commission Act 1986 provides for a Commission of four members, consisting of:
• a Chairman appointed by the Minister;
• the Chief Executive (CE) of the agency primarily responsible to the Minister for the administration of the Act, or their delegate, and
• two members appointed by the Minister, one representing the interests of municipal councils and the other representing the interests of regional councils.
In 2017-18, the members of the Commission were:
Dr David Ritchie Chairman – appointed 21 December 2016 to 20 December 2020
Mr David Alexander CE’s delegate – appointed 16 May 2017 to 01 August 2017
Ms Meeta Ramkumar CE’s delegate – appointed 02 August 2017
Mr Damien Ryan Representing municipal councils – appointed 1 September 2011 to 31 August 2017 28 September 2017 to 31 March 2018 10 May 2018 to 31 August 2021
Mr Steven Hennessy Representing regional councils – appointed 11 May 2010 to 31 August 2019
Ms Kylie Bonanni Deputy for Mr Ryan – appointed 27 March 2014 until 31 August 2017
Ms Christina Miller Deputy for Mr Ryan – appointed 10 May 2018 to 31 August 2021
Ms Narelle Bremner Deputy for Mr Hennessy – appointed 25 October 2016 until 31 August 2019
Ms Jocelyn Nathanael-Walters Deputy for Ms Meeta Ramkumar appointed – 02 August 2017
In 2017-18, the Accountable Officer of the Commission was:
Ms Donna Hadfield Accountable Officer – acted in position from 01 May 2017 and officially appointed 20 July 2017
5 — Organisation and people
Organisation and people
Members’ Profiles
David Ritchie
David has worked in professional and executive roles in the public and not for profit sectors in the Northern Territory since 1981. For more than 20 years he held the position of chief executive. This role included:
• Department of Lands and Planning and Northern Territory Land Development Corporation (2009 - 2012)
• Department of Housing, Local Government and Sport (2008 - 2009)
• Department of Natural Resources, Environment and the Arts (2005 - 2008)
• Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority (1990 - 2003).
Other executive roles include Director of Parks and Wildlife and Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Environment Natural Resource Management Division Executive Director (2003 - 2005).
David also worked in professional roles as an anthropologist in statutory bodies responsible for administering the Northern Territory’s Indigenous cultural heritage and land rights laws including the Northern Land Council, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory and the Aboriginal Sacred Sites Authority.
His present positions include Director Ninti One Limited, board member Northern Territory Land Corporation, member of the Scientific Inquiry into Hydraulic Fracturing in the Northern Territory and Chair of the Northern Territory Planning Commission.
Damien Ryan
Damien was born in Alice Springs. He commenced his business career in 1972, working in the retail photographic industry. He gained invaluable knowledge of the tourism industry as licensee of Mount Ebenezer and Dunmarra roadhouses. His experiences include directorships of the following companies in the Northern Territory: Alice Springs Camera Shop Pty Ltd, Dajon Agencies Pty Ltd, Mt. Ebenezer Investments Pty Ltd and Dunmarra Roadhouse.
Damien is a lateral thinker, and enjoys applying his analytical and problem solving skills to achieve successful outcomes to a wide variety of situations.
Damien is the Mayor of Alice Springs, a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and a Justice of the Peace.
Other positions Damien holds include; President of the Local Government Association Northern Territory (LGANT) and Vice President of the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA). He is involved in many organisations that work toward the sustainable development and advancement of Alice Springs and the Northern Territory. These include the Deputy Chair - Outback Highway Development Council and Chair - Alice Springs Alcohol Reference Group.
Damien and his wife Joanne have three daughters who live in Alice Springs.
Northern Territory Grants Commission Annual Report 2017/18 — 6
Steven Hennessy
Steven was born in South Australia and spent his youth in the Riverland before moving to Adelaide. He had a career in event support management for Spotless Catering across southeast Australia from the early 1980s until 1995, when he was injured in a car accident. After being a regular visitor to the Territory since 1998, he became a permanent resident of Timber Creek, 300kms south-west of Katherine, in 2005.
Steven became a councillor for the Victoria Daly Shire Council in October 2008, Deputy Mayor from October 2011 until October 2013, Acting Mayor up until July 2014 after which time he became the Mayor. Steve stepped down as Mayor in August 2016.
During his tenure he was a delegate of the Local Government Association of the Northern Territory. Steve was also involved in a number of local government related organisations, including the NT Heritage Council, the National Local Government Drug and Alcohol Advisory Council, the NT Water Safety Advisory Committee. He also has his own general maintenance small business, and is renovating an old railway house in Larrimah. His hobbies include golf and history.
Kylie Bonanni
Kylie Bonanni moved to Alice Springs from Ballarat, Victoria in 1988 when her father became the gold room manager at Granites Mine. She has worked in the building industry alongside her husband in the family business and has been involved in many aspects of Alice Springs community life, particularly as her three children were growing up.
She is the ambassador coordinator for the Masters Games and is also on the Masters Games Steering Committee as well as a Board member for Tourism NT. Kylie is Deputy Chair of the council’s Development Committee.
Kylie would like to see more growth and business opportunities in Alice Springs. She is also focused on senior citizens and ensuring they continue to be looked after and is a strong believer in looking at the positives in our community.
Councillor Bonanni was a member of the Alice Springs Town Council from November 2013 and resigned whilst Deputy Mayor on 23 July 2015.
7 — Organisation and People
Christina (Fay) Miller
Fay and her family came to Katherine in December 1989 for a planned 4 year stay. Within this time the family knew Katherine was to be their home.
Fay has been deeply involved in the Tourism industry as both an operator and now as a passionate advocate for this vital Katherine industry.
Fay believes that wherever you live you must take responsibility for the growth and development of that community at whatever level you are capable; be it a sporting association, community organisation, business development or local government. Fay has always strived to that end.
Fay is currently the Mayor of Katherine Town Council.
Narelle Bremner
Narelle is a long term resident of Tennant Creek having been raised and attending school in the town. She has a bachelor of social work and has worked in the area of child trauma, sexual assault and domestic violence.
Narelle has a strong commitment to community wellbeing and regional development. Having served on a number of boards including the Tennant Creek Hospital Board and the Tennant Creek Women’s Refuge Board. Narelle is currently an elected Councillor for the Barkly Regional Council.
Administration and Staffing
The costs of operation of the Commission for the year were met by funds appropriated to the Department of Housing and Community Development. The operational expenditure for 2017-18 was $117 580.62 compared to $245 296.34 in 2016-17.
The Executive Officer, Mrs Donna Hadfield of the Department of Housing and Community Development coordinated the visitation program and assisted with the Commission’s activities through the provision of executive support.
Northern Territory Grants Commission Annual Report 2017/18 — 8
The National Conference of Local Government Grants Commissions was held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Adelaide, South Australia, from 30 to 31 October 2017.
The forum was officially opened by Mr Geoff Brock MP, Minister for Regional Development and Local Government followed by papers presented by Ms Lorraine Rosenberg, President, Local Government Association (SA), Ms Elizabeth Bennett, A/General Manager, Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development, Ms Alison Harper, Director, Commonwealth Grants Commission
Delegates and partners also participated in the official conference dinner at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Executive Officers’ meeting
Following the National Conference the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development facilitated an Executive Officers’ Workshop on 31 October 2017
Key items on the agenda included:
• Calculating grants – initial and final estimates;
• Commonwealth data requirements and templates;
• Census population data and impacts on future allocations;
• Advance payment errors; and
• Appointment process of grants commission members and perceived conflicts of interest.
Visits to local governing bodies
The rolling visitation program on a regional and municipal basis continued in 2017-18 with the Commission having conducted visits to the East Arnhem Regional Council for a meeting with the council on Groote Eylandt and the Barkly Regional Council including three respective communities.
The program of Commission visits is done on a cyclical basis and takes three years to complete, although special circumstances may warrant departures from the pre-planned program. In 2018-19 the Commission intends to re-establish the preferred number of visits to council to at least three per year.
Financial data
The total revenue and expenditure of councils in the 2016-17 financial year amounted to $511 million and $467 million respectively. Included in these amounts were revenues and expenditures not considered to relate strictly to local government. Thus, for the 2018-19 allocations, the Commission determined local government income to be $210.445 million and local government expenditure to be $316.883 million.
The presentation of financial information via the Commission’s annual return for all councils was achieved mid December 2017.
The data collected in these returns is used by the Commission to allow an assessment of the income and expenditures of individual councils and to determine total income and expenditure of all local governments in the Northern Territory. The Australian Bureau of Statistics in its local government financial statistics and national accounts also uses this data.
9 — Summary of Activities in 2017-18
Summary of Activitiesin 2017-18
Annual audited financial statements
Regulation 17 of the Local Government (Accounting) Regulations stipulates that a copy of councils’ audited annual financial statements be forwarded to the Chairman of the Northern Territory Grants Commission no later than 15 November each year. For financial year 2016-17, four councils failed to lodge their annual financial statements by the date specified. These councils are listed in Schedule 12. Submissions
No submissions were presented to the Commission at its visits/public hearings during the year. Payments 2017-18
During 2017-18, grants continued to be paid in quarterly installments in addition there was an early payment brought forward in June 2018. The total payments to local governing bodies during the year are summarised below:
15 August 2017 $4 196 491
15 November 2017 $4 196 491
15 February 2018 $4 196 491
15 May 2018 $4 196 495
20 June 2018 $17 263 910
Total distribution of 2017-18 payments
$34 049 878
Estimated entitlement 2018-19
The Commonwealth allocates the general purpose and local road grants based on an estimated population figure and an estimated CPI growth factor for the coming year as determined by the Australian Statistician. This calculation is what is known as the estimated entitlement. The amounts for 2018-19 are $16 901 357 and $17 692 420 respectively.
Entitlement 2017-18
The Australian Government’s estimate of the Territory’s share of the national population was less than the actual population. This resulted in the entitlement for 2017-18 being under-estimated by $204 429. The adjustment comprised an underpayment of $206 654 (general purpose) and an overpayment of $2 225 (local roads). The 2018-19 council payments have been adjusted by these amounts based on the data used for the distribution of the estimated entitlement for 2017-18.
Cash entitlement 2018-19
The cash entitlement for 2018-19 is the estimated entitlement for the year plus the underpayment for general purpose and less the overpayment for roads in 2017-18.
Northern Territory Grants Commission Annual Report 2017/18 — 10
Communication with councils
In accordance with its policy to keep all Northern Territory councils informed about its operations and latest developments, the Commission corresponds on a regular basis with individual councils on many issues. The following list summarises the main items sent to all councils during the year.
Subject Date
Letter advising the estimated entitlements for the 2017-18 general purpose and local road grants
15 August 2017
Letter (electronically) advising the requirement to lodge an annual return
08 November 2017
Commission’s Annual Report available on web
08 December 2017
Letter (electronically) advising the requirement to lodge an annual road return
24 January 2018
Letters advising of the brought forward payment of the 2017-18 general purpose and roads grants
20 June 2018
Council letters of advice
Letters of advice in 2017-18 provided the following comprehensive information to councils:
i. A sheet detailing the council’s grant allocations and payment schedule for 2017-18;
ii. A sheet showing the calculation of standardised expenditure and standardised revenue for the council;
iii. A matrix showing the application of the three cost adjustors against the various expenditure categories;
iv. A bar chart showing the cost adjustors calculated for the council which underpin the calculation of standardised expenditures;
v. A sheet showing the calculation of the council’s identified local road entitlement for 2017-18;
vi. A grant trend chart of the council’s grants over five years; and
vii. A sheet showing the 2017-18 grant allocations for all Northern Territory councils.
A similar package will be provided to each council for the 2018-19 year, and this process will continue into the future.
Revenue and expenditure assessments of local governments
Revenue and expenditure assessments are included at Schedules 8 and 9. Key drivers and a matrix of how the cost adjustors are applied are also included at Appendix B.
11 — Summary of Activities in 2017-18
Recommendations
Northern Territory Grants Commission Annual Report 2017/18 — 12
Estimated Entitlement
The Commonwealth allocates the general purpose and local road grants based on an estimated population figure and an estimated CPI growth factor for the coming year as determined by the Australian Statistician. This calculation is what is known as the estimated entitlement. The amounts for this year are $16 901 357 and $17 692 420 respectively.
Cash Adjustment
The Commonwealth has advised that there is a total underpayment of $204 429 in relation to the 2017-18 grants. The underpayments comprises an underpayment of $206 654 (general purpose) and an overpayment of $2 225 (local roads).
General Comments
When the grants were calculated for this year using the Australian Bureau of Statistic 2016 census, estimated resident population data, it was apparent that a number of councils where effected by population decreases. A total of 8 regional councils and the municipal councils of Katherine and Alice Springs all experienced decreases in population.
Previously the methodology had quarantined $200 000 to assist the Katherine and Alice Springs municipal councils with the financial imposts placed on them due to the high levels on non-resident usage on councils services and infrastructure.
Using this same methodology 7 councils would have received losses in grant outcomes even though the overall amount of funding available had increased. The Commission was of the belief that some losses particularly those effecting the councils of Tiwi, Katherine, Victoria Daly and Barkly were excessive for the councils to absorb in the year. Therefore the Commission decided it was difficult to justify the continuance of quarantining funds whilst at the same time provide a buffer on losses for other councils as a result of the population decreases.
The Commission therefore abolished the quarantined funds to the Alice Springs and Katherine councils and implemented a loss assist factor into the 2018-19 methodology. The rationale for implementing the loss assist factor was that it was only applied to councils that stood to receive a loss greater than 5% in grant funding. A total of 6 councils benefited from the loss assist parameter which totalled $355 974.
13 — Recommendations
Northern Territory Grants Commission Annual Report 2017/18 — 14
Estimated Entitlement
The Commonwealth allocates the general purpose and local road grants based on an estimated population figure and an estimated CPI growth factor for the coming year as determined by the Australian Statistician. This calculation is what is known as the estimated entitlement. The amounts for this year are $16 901 357 and $17 692 420 respectively.
Cash Adjustment
The Commonwealth has advised that there is a total underpayment of $204 429 in relation to the 2017-18 grants. The underpayments comprises an underpayment of $206 654 (general purpose) and an overpayment of $2 225 (local roads).
General Comments
When the grants were calculated for this year using the Australian Bureau of Statistic 2016 census, estimated resident population data, it was apparent that a number of councils where effected by population decreases. A total of 8 regional councils and the municipal councils of Katherine and Alice Springs all experienced decreases in population.
Previously the methodology had quarantined $200 000 to assist the Katherine and Alice Springs municipal councils with the financial imposts placed on them due to the high levels on non-resident usage on councils services and infrastructure.
Using this same methodology 7 councils would have received losses in grant outcomes even though the overall amount of funding available had increased. The Commission was of the belief that some losses particularly those effecting the councils of Tiwi, Katherine, Victoria Daly and Barkly were excessive for the councils to absorb in the year. Therefore the Commission decided it was difficult to justify the continuance of quarantining funds whilst at the same time provide a buffer on losses for other councils as a result of the population decreases.
The Commission therefore abolished the quarantined funds to the Alice Springs and Katherine councils and implemented a loss assist factor into the 2018-19 methodology. The rationale for implementing the loss assist factor was that it was only applied to councils that stood to receive a loss greater than 5% in grant funding. A total of 6 councils benefited from the loss assist parameter which totalled $355 974.
15 — Recommendations
* Figures have been rounded and discrepancies may occur between totals and the sums of the component items.
Schedule 1
Population used for the 2018-19 allocations
Council Population
Alice Springs Town Council 26 743
Barkly Regional Council 7 507
Belyuen Community Government Council 178
Central Desert Regional Council 4 241
City of Darwin 84 566
City of Palmerston 36 578
Coomalie Community Government Council 1 428
East Arnhem Regional Council 10 402
Litchfield Council 25 423
MacDonnell Regional Council 6 838
Municipality of Katherine 10 572
Roper Gulf Regional Council 7 478
Tiwi Islands Regional Council 2 797
Victoria Daly Regional Council 3 207
Wagait Shire Council 507
West Arnhem Regional Council 7 008
West Daly Regional Council 3 678
TOTAL 239 151
Northern Territory Grants Commission Annual Report 2017/18 — 16 16 — Schedules
Schedules
* Figures have been rounded and discrepancies may occur between totals and the sums of the component items.
Schedule 2
Cost adjustors and key drivers 2018-19
Council Location DispersionIndigenous background
Alice Springs Town Council 1.12 1.03 1.18
Barkly Regional Council 1.14 1.68 1.68
Belyuen Community Government Council 1.00 1.03 1.98
Central Desert Regional Council 1.14 2.00 1.84
City of Darwin 1.00 1.03 1.07
City of Palmerston 1.00 1.03 1.11
Coomalie Community Government Council 1.00 1.29 1.24
East Arnhem Regional Council 1.27 2.00 1.94
Katherine Town Council 1.03 1.03 1.22
Litchfield Council 1.00 1.13 1.10
MacDonnell Regional Council 1.15 2.00 1.82
Roper Gulf Regional Council 1.13 2.00 1.80
Tiwi Islands Regional Council 1.12 1.42 1.89
Victoria Daly Regional Council 1.06 1.55 1.65
Wagait Shire Council 1.00 1.03 1.09
West Arnhem Regional Council 1.09 1.55 1.77
West Daly Regional Council 1.10 1.29 1.91
17 — Organisation and People
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6.30
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9.91
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6.91
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122.
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6 31
4.76
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8.57
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1 32
9 39
7.93
Schedule 3
Road lengths 2018-19
Northern Territory Grants Commission Annual Report 2017/18 — 18 18 — Schedules
Schedule 4
Reconciliation of local government income and expenditure
Reconciliation of actual revenue and expenditure as supplied by local governing bodies 2016-17
Actual revenue 2016-17 $
Rates and annual charges 175 635 950
Fines and penalties 2 477 419
Grants and subsidies 225 038 495
Fuel rebate 464 212
User fees and charges 25 407 077
Interest income 8 312 985
Profit on sale of assets 127 435
Other current revenue (n.e.c) 46 367 101
Other capital revenue 1 907 144
Assets acquired without cost or below fair value
25 408 920
Total actual revenue 2016-17 $511 146 738
* Figures have been rounded and discrepancies may occur between totals and the sums of the component items.
Actual expenditure 2016-17 $
Employee expenses 186 735 869
Materials and contracts 145 615 125
Depreciation 85 542 611
Bad debts 379 190
Current transfers expenses 1 408 754
Interest 417 582
Other expenses 47 115 097
Total actual expenditure 2016-17 $467 214 228* Figures have been rounded and discrepancies may occur between totals and the sums of the component items.
Identified local government revenue
$
General rates-municipal levied 115 606 456
Domestic waste 29 201 737
Garbage other 15 663 056
Regional and shire council rates 18 520 727
Parking 1 034 380
Interest 8 312 985
Total identified local government revenue
$188 339 341
* Figures have been rounded and discrepancies may occur between totals and the sums of the component items.
Identified local government expenditure
$
General public service 113 027 693
Public order and safety 18 892 202
Economic affairs 45 843 161
Environment protection 17 333 343
Housing and community amenities 42 097 825
Health 3 469 502
Recreation, culture and religion 51 302 627
Education 584 985
Social protection 24 331 725
Total identified local government expenditure
$316 883 063
* Figures have been rounded and discrepancies may occur between totals and the sums of the component items.
Balanced budget approach used for the 2018-19 allocations $
Identified local government revenue 188 339 341
50% Roads to Recovery grants 2017-18 2 558 632
Library grants 2017-18 4 019 500
Road grants 2017-18 15 527 560
Budget term 106 438 030
Total revenue $316 883 063
Identified local government expenditure $316 883 063
Total expenditure $316 883 063* Figures have been rounded and discrepancies may occur between totals and the sums of the component items.
19 — Organisation and People
Schedule 5
Actual local government income 2016-17
Cou
ncil
Mun
icip
al
rate
s (l
evie
d)
$
Dom
esti
c w
aste
$
Gar
bage
ot
her
$
Reg
iona
l cou
ncil
rate
s (l
evie
d)
$In
tere
st
$
Par
king
re
stri
cted
$
Tota
l $
Alic
e Sp
ring
s To
wn
Cou
ncil
21 5
36 8
203
610
000
2 65
5 00
00
1 28
0 00
00
29 0
81 8
20
Bar
kly
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
079
6 00
00
2 75
5 11
510
4 00
00
3 65
5 11
5
Bel
yuen
Com
mun
ity
Gov
ernm
ent C
ounc
il0
43 7
450
45 2
4455
089
044
Cen
tral
Des
ert R
egio
nal C
ounc
il0
998
637
01
628
805
242
265
02
869
707
City
of D
arw
in
60 8
36 5
956
762
094
12 4
35 5
440
2 21
9 14
21
034
380
83 2
87 7
55
City
of P
alm
erst
on20
115
821
6 64
1 59
20
01
120
762
027
878
175
Coo
mal
ie C
omm
unity
G
over
nmen
t Cou
ncil
024
3 17
011
5 72
294
0 01
648
665
01
347
573
East
Arn
hem
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
02
420
055
45 6
903
432
763
761
537
06
660
045
Kat
heri
ne T
own
Cou
ncil
6 19
0 02
91
034
377
00
393
444
07
617
850
Litc
hfiel
d C
ounc
il6
927
191
2 66
7 74
541
1 10
00
812
587
010
818
623
Mac
Don
nell
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
083
7 88
00
1 73
8 37
054
8 72
20
3 12
4 97
2
Rop
er G
ulf R
egio
nal C
ounc
il0
718
410
01
587
897
229
323
02
535
630
Tiw
i Isl
ands
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
050
3 49
70
902
680
32 9
660
1 43
9 14
3
Vict
oria
Dal
y R
egio
nal C
ounc
il0
520
928
054
5 16
689
411
01
155
505
Wag
ait S
hire
Cou
ncil
012
5 42
70
221
622
8 77
80
355
827
Wes
t Arn
hem
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
085
6 34
60
3 94
8 45
031
8 61
10
5 12
3 40
7
Wes
t Dal
y R
egio
nal C
ounc
il0
421
834
077
4 59
910
2 71
70
1 29
9 15
0
Tota
l$
115
606
456
$29
201
737
$15
663
056
$18
520
727
$8
312
985
$1
034
380
$18
8 33
9 34
1
* Fi
gure
s ha
ve b
een
roun
ded
and
disc
repa
ncie
s m
ay o
ccur
bet
wee
n to
tals
and
the
sum
s of
the
com
pone
nt it
ems.
Northern Territory Grants Commission Annual Report 2017/18 — 20 20 — Schedules
Schedule 6
Actual council expenditure by function 2016-17
Cou
ncil
Econ
omic
af
fair
s
$Ed
ucat
ion
$
Envi
ronm
enta
l pr
otec
tion
$
Gen
eral
pub
lic
serv
ices
$
Hea
lth
$
Hou
sing
and
co
mm
unit
y am
enit
ies
$
Pub
lic o
rder
an
d sa
fety
$
Rec
reat
ion,
cu
ltur
e an
d re
ligio
n
$
Soci
al
prot
ecti
on
$To
tal
$
Alic
e Sp
ring
s To
wn
Cou
ncil
2 56
7 25
64
000
5 09
5 35
917
687
803
01
302
740
1 27
2 90
27
682
424
6 51
635
619
000
Bar
kly
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
900
000
015
6 81
211
228
753
490
388
5 58
7 65
72
277
586
2 43
8 27
91
961
525
25 0
41 0
00
Bel
yuen
Com
mun
ity
Gov
ernm
ent C
ounc
il77
9 73
70
050
7 43
90
497
768
011
3 35
126
6 31
72
164
612
Cen
tral
Des
ert R
egio
nal C
ounc
il6
128
840
01
013
087
10 6
68 6
263
277
8 10
0 09
13
889
124
1 14
5 59
65
159
623
36 1
08 2
64
City
Of D
arw
in13
605
691
051
4 55
139
529
377
229
548
22 6
97 6
185
141
481
23 9
09 6
100
105
627
876
City
Of P
alm
erst
on8
709
840
07
221
376
8 53
8 86
70
1 12
4 18
194
6 75
49
135
464
69 5
9935
746
081
Coo
mal
ie C
omm
unity
Gov
ernm
ent C
ounc
il83
9 30
10
300
997
808
186
054
680
20 8
2254
3 94
00
2 56
7 92
6
East
Arn
hem
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
10 6
91 8
920
624
691
13 1
81 6
470
5 11
3 64
83
242
233
3 17
4 69
75
202
661
41 2
31 4
69
Kat
heri
ne T
own
Cou
ncil
3 23
0 00
90
1 04
0 29
52
500
898
035
1 38
119
4 04
11
804
382
09
121
006
Litc
hfiel
d C
ounc
il20
636
675
12 0
002
734
767
3 43
4 51
10
040
9 63
32
552
243
029
779
829
Mac
Don
nell
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
3 46
7 38
40
89 8
2821
180
269
481
222
1 24
1 77
01
053
264
264
231
4 67
3 81
632
451
784
Rop
er G
ulf R
egio
nal C
ounc
il2
273
198
422
002
59 5
7115
664
600
05
732
669
01
250
697
9 23
4 51
634
637
253
Tiw
i Isl
ands
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
2 94
3 72
919
5 66
87
660
9 28
4 92
036
608
1 30
2 61
478
1 83
645
6 35
970
0 32
715
709
721
Vict
oria
Dal
y R
egio
nal C
ounc
il4
601
527
00
12 1
79 6
221
790
527
1 14
0 45
80
750
132
1 92
3 21
722
385
483
Wag
ait S
hire
Cou
ncil
146
432
090
176
452
901
00
00
068
9 50
9
Wes
t Arn
hem
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
4 61
6 85
927
158
1 09
7 33
89
032
076
151
213
3 89
3 47
61
015
455
4 03
3 93
61
825
779
25 6
93 2
90
Wes
t Dal
y R
egio
nal C
ounc
il45
9 07
531
381
109
082
6 90
7 94
11
959
679
1 23
3 55
41
141
054
798
359
012
640
125
TOTA
L$
86 5
97 4
45$
692
209
$20
155
590
$18
2 78
8 43
6$
5 14
2 46
2$
59 3
74 3
05$
21 3
86 1
85$
60 0
53 7
00$
31 0
23 8
96$
467
214
228
* Fi
gure
s ha
ve b
een
roun
ded
and
disc
repa
ncie
s m
ay o
ccur
bet
wee
n to
tals
and
the
sum
s of
the
com
pone
nt it
ems.
21 — Organisation and People
Schedule 7
Assessed revenue 2016-17
Cou
ncil
Dom
esti
c
was
te
$G
arba
ge o
ther
$
Mun
icip
al r
ates
$
Reg
iona
l co
unci
l rat
es
$
Par
king
re
stri
cted
$
Inte
rest
$
Tota
l ass
esse
d re
venu
e
$
Alic
e Sp
ring
s To
wn
Cou
ncil
3 26
5 47
72
655
000
11 8
04 9
770
01
280
000
19 0
05 4
54
Bar
kly
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
916
649
00
2 51
5 60
70
104
000
3 53
6 25
6
Bel
yuen
Com
mun
ity
Gov
ernm
ent C
ounc
il21
735
00
59 6
480
5581
438
Cen
tral
Des
ert R
egio
nal C
ounc
il51
7 85
10
01
421
166
024
2 26
52
181
282
City
of D
arw
in10
326
004
12 4
35 5
4462
313
887
01
034
380
2 21
9 14
288
328
957
City
of P
alm
erst
on4
466
388
019
314
822
00
1 12
0 76
224
901
972
Coo
mal
ie C
omm
unity
G
over
nmen
t Cou
ncil
174
367
115
722
047
8 52
50
48 6
6581
7 27
9
East
Arn
hem
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
1 27
0 14
545
690
03
485
726
076
1 53
75
563
098
Kat
heri
ne T
own
Cou
ncil
1 29
0 90
30
3 15
1 58
20
039
3 44
44
835
929
Litc
hfiel
d C
ounc
il3
104
297
411
100
19 0
21 1
880
081
2 58
723
349
172
Mac
Don
nell
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
834
960
00
2 29
1 42
40
548
722
3 67
5 10
6
Rop
er G
ulf R
egio
nal C
ounc
il91
3 10
80
02
505
889
022
9 32
33
648
320
Tiw
i Isl
ands
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
341
530
00
937
279
032
966
1 31
1 77
5
Vict
oria
Dal
y R
egio
nal C
ounc
il39
1 59
30
01
074
671
089
411
1 55
5 67
5
Wag
ait S
hire
Cou
ncil
61 9
080
016
9 89
60
8 77
824
0 58
2
Wes
t Arn
hem
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
855
718
00
2 34
8 39
20
318
611
3 52
2 72
0
Wes
t Dal
y R
egio
nal C
ounc
il44
9 10
50
01
232
503
010
2 71
71
784
326
TOTA
L$
29 2
01 7
37$
15 6
63 0
56$
115
606
456
$18
520
727
$1
034
380
$8
312
985
$18
8 33
9 34
1
* Fi
gure
s ha
ve b
een
roun
ded
and
disc
repa
ncie
s m
ay o
ccur
bet
wee
n to
tals
and
the
sum
s of
the
com
pone
nt it
ems.
Northern Territory Grants Commission Annual Report 2017/18 — 22 22 — Schedules
Schedule 8
Summary standardised revenue 2016-17
* Fi
gure
s ha
ve b
een
roun
ded
and
disc
repa
ncie
s m
ay o
ccur
bet
wee
n to
tals
and
the
sum
s of
the
com
pone
nt it
ems.
Cou
ncil
Ass
esse
d N
T av
erag
e re
venu
e
$
2017
-18
Roa
ds
to R
ecov
ery
$
2017
-18
Libr
ary
gr
ant
$
2017
-18
Roa
ds
gran
t $
Bud
get
term
$
Tota
l st
anda
rdis
ed
reve
nue
$
Alic
e Sp
ring
s To
wn
Cou
ncil
19 0
05 4
5416
2 80
560
6 88
893
2 65
311
902
406
32 6
10 2
05
Bar
kly
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
3 53
6 25
646
265
183
998
444
253
3 34
1 11
27
551
884
Bel
yuen
Com
mun
ity G
over
nmen
t Cou
ncil
81 4
385
656
032
367
79 2
2219
8 68
2
Cen
tral
Des
ert R
egio
nal C
ounc
il2
181
282
146
655
89 6
9983
8 88
81
887
526
5 14
4 04
9
City
of D
arw
in
88 3
28 9
5731
2 05
81
506
051
1 82
7 22
837
637
469
129
611
763
City
of P
alm
erst
on24
901
972
134
595
581
756
881
955
16 2
79 6
3242
779
910
Coo
mal
ie C
omm
unity
Gov
ernm
ent C
ounc
il81
7 27
969
223
51 7
4844
3 21
663
5 55
52
017
021
East
Arn
hem
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
5 56
3 09
819
9 55
321
8 49
81
217
393
4 62
9 57
911
828
121
Kat
heri
ne T
own
Cou
ncil
4 83
5 92
910
7 54
025
7 61
762
0 27
54
705
240
10 5
26 6
01
Litc
hfiel
d C
ounc
il23
349
172
432
358
02
529
063
11 3
14 9
1837
625
512
Mac
Don
nell
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
3 67
5 10
616
9 02
739
100
979
861
3 04
3 36
37
906
457
Rop
er G
ulf R
egio
nal C
ounc
il3
648
320
136
667
166
747
1 04
7 96
83
328
205
8 32
7 90
7
Tiw
i Isl
ands
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
1 31
1 77
516
5 76
064
399
958
141
1 24
4 85
03
744
925
Vict
oria
Dal
y R
egio
nal C
ounc
il1
555
675
145
448
38 5
2569
2 87
31
427
327
3 85
9 84
9
Wag
ait S
hire
Cou
ncil
240
582
9 46
70
54 2
1722
5 64
952
9 91
5
Wes
t Arn
hem
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
3 52
2 72
020
1 29
498
900
1 16
7 72
23
119
024
8 10
9 66
1
Wes
t Dal
y R
egio
nal C
ounc
il1
784
326
114
261
115
574
859
487
1 63
6 95
44
510
601
TOTA
L$
188
339
341
$2
558
632
$4
019
500
$15
527
560
$10
6 43
8 03
0$
316
883
063
23 — Organisation and People
Schedule 9
Standardised expenditure 2016-17
* Fi
gure
s ha
ve b
een
roun
ded
and
disc
repa
ncie
s m
ay o
ccur
bet
wee
n to
tals
and
the
sum
s of
the
com
pone
nt it
ems.
Coun
cil
Econ
omic
af
fair
s
$Ed
ucat
ion
$
Envi
ronm
enta
l pr
otec
tion
$
Gen
eral
pu
blic
se
rvic
es
$H
ealt
h
$
Hou
sing
and
co
mm
unity
am
eniti
es
$
Publ
ic o
rder
an
d sa
fety
$
Rec
reat
ion,
cu
ltur
e an
d re
ligio
n
$
Soci
al
prot
ectio
n
$To
tal
$
Alic
e Sp
ring
s To
wn
Cou
ncil
11 7
34 7
081
785
907
4 70
0 51
21
938
297
3 97
9 56
732
7 97
75
260
296
55 2
992
300
113
32 0
82 6
76
Bar
kly
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
4 70
5 76
81
069
027
2 12
4 46
654
4 09
72
382
131
196
324
2 37
7 46
933
102
1 37
6 82
614
809
211
Bel
yuen
Com
mun
ity
Gov
ernm
ent C
ounc
il13
1 21
219
194
27 4
7912
901
42 7
713
525
30 7
5159
424
721
293
150
Cen
tral
Des
ert R
egio
nal C
ounc
il2
911
662
735
583
1 41
6 95
430
7 38
21
639
112
135
088
1 58
5 70
022
777
947
375
9 70
1 63
2
City
of D
arw
in
33 8
88 7
014
363
950
13 0
54 9
776
129
230
9 72
4 26
580
1 42
814
609
696
135
127
5 62
0 43
788
327
810
City
of P
alm
erst
on15
190
427
1 97
6 54
25
646
772
2 65
1 12
44
404
364
362
987
6 31
9 24
761
202
2 54
5 63
739
158
302
Coo
mal
ie C
omm
unity
G
over
nmen
t Cou
ncil
661
766
112
876
279
229
103
500
251
523
20 7
2931
2 48
23
495
145
376
1 89
0 97
6
East
Arn
hem
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
7 51
0 22
01
962
369
3 70
9 70
175
3 92
34
372
781
360
384
4 15
1 48
960
763
2 52
7 38
225
409
012
Kat
heri
ne T
own
Cou
ncil
4 81
6 45
766
7 17
31
691
981
766
244
1 48
6 67
312
2 52
41
893
479
20 6
5985
9 26
812
324
458
Litc
hfiel
d C
ounc
il10
406
107
1 51
4 26
44
327
192
1 84
2 62
53
374
262
278
091
4 84
2 51
846
888
1 95
0 25
828
582
205
Mac
Don
nell
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
4 64
6 15
71
180
055
2 28
9 81
949
5 60
92
629
537
216
714
2 56
2 51
436
540
1 51
9 82
115
576
766
Rop
er G
ulf R
egio
nal C
ounc
il5
014
047
1 26
7 44
92
475
356
541
995
2 82
4 27
823
2 76
42
770
146
39 2
461
632
378
16 7
97 6
58
Tiw
i Isl
ands
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
1 97
2 46
438
3 76
866
7 38
120
2 72
385
5 15
670
478
746
860
11 8
8349
4 26
45
404
977
Vict
oria
Dal
y R
egio
nal C
ounc
il1
972
019
403
357
793
690
232
439
898
807
74 0
7588
8 21
112
490
519
493
5 79
4 58
0
Wag
ait S
hire
Cou
ncil
206
011
26 6
3878
269
36 7
4759
357
4 89
287
590
825
34 3
0753
4 63
5
Wes
t Arn
hem
Reg
iona
l Cou
ncil
4 63
8 76
795
2 20
11
772
503
507
930
2 12
1 80
717
4 86
91
983
590
29 4
841
226
363
13 4
07 5
15
Wes
t Dal
y R
egio
nal C
ounc
il2
621
199
471
851
786
879
266
576
1 05
1 43
386
654
880
589
14 6
1160
7 70
86
787
500
Tota
l$1
13 0
27 6
93$1
8 89
2 20
2$4
5 84
3 16
1$1
7 33
3 34
3$4
2 09
7 82
5$3
469
502
$51
302
627
$584
985
$24
331
725
$316
883
063
Northern Territory Grants Commission Annual Report 2017/18 — 24 24 — Schedules
* Figures have been rounded and discrepancies may occur between totals and the sums of the component items.
Schedule 10
National share of financial assistance grants 2018-19
State/Territory General purpose $
Share %
Local road component
$Share
%Total
$Share
%
NSW 544 058 912 31.96 219 131 911 29.01 763 190 823 31.06
VIC 438 977 661 25.79 155 712 474 20.62 594 690 135 24.20
QLD 341 178 718 20.04 141 512 758 18.74 482 691 476 19.64
WA 177 791 685 10.45 115 484 204 15.29 293 275 889 11.93
SA 118 732 023 6.98 41 508 033 5.50 160 240 056 6.52
TAS 35 988 453 2.11 40 024 771 5.30 76 013 224 3.09
NT 16 901 357 0.99 17 692 420 2.34 34 593 777 1.41
ACT 28 501 060 1.67 24 218 544 3.21 52 719 604 2.15
TOTAL $1 702 129 869 100 $755 285 115 100 $2 457 414 984 100
Schedule 11
Visits/Public Hearings to local governing bodies
Council Service delivery centre 2017-18 2016-17 2015-16 2014-15
Darwin City Council Darwin
Tiwi Islands Regional Council
Wurrumiyangav
Pirlangimpi
Milikapiti
Wuranku
30 Jul 14
31 Jul 14
31 Jul 14
31 Jul 14
City of Palmerston Palmerston
Belyuen Community Government Council
Belyuen
Coomalie Community Government Council
Coomalie 19 May 15
Wagait Shire Council Wagait/Cox Peninsula
Litchfield Council Litchfield
West Arnhem Regional Council
Shire Office (Jabiru) 19 Nov 14
Maningrida 19 Nov 14
Gunbalanya 17 Nov 14
Minjilang 18 Nov 14
Warruwi 18 Nov 14
25 — Organisation and People
Council Service delivery centre 2017-18 2016-17 2015-16 2014-15
East Arnhem Regional Council
Shire Office (Nhulunbuy)
Galiwin’ku
Gunyangara (Marngarr)
Lake Evella
Milyakburra
Milingimbi
Ramingining
Yirrkala
Umbakumba
Angurugu
26 Nov 17
Victoria Daly Regional Council
Shire Office (Katherine)
Daly River
Daguragu/Kalkarindji
Timber Creek
Yarralin
Pine Creek
07 Oct 15
06 Oct 15
09 Oct 15
08 Oct 15
08 Oct 15
07 Oct 15
West Daly Regional Council
Nganmarriyanga
Peppimenarti
Wadeye
05 Oct 15
06 Oct 15
05 Oct 15
Katherine Town Council
Katherine
Binjari
Roper Gulf Regional Council
Shire Office (Katherine)
Borroloola
Numbulwar
Barunga
Wugularr (Beswick)
Bulman
Manyallaluk (Eva Valley)
Ngukurr
Mataranka
Jilkminggan
06 May 16
05 May 16
05 May 16
04 May 16
04 May 16
06 May 16
04 May 16
05 May 16
03 May 16
03 May 16
Schedule 11 (cont.)
Visits/Public Hearings to local governing bodies
Northern Territory Grants Commission Annual Report 2017/18 — 26 26 — Schedules
Council Service delivery centre 2017-18 2016-17 2015-16 2014-15
Barkly Regional Council
Shire Office (Tennant Creek)
Elliott
Ampilatwatja
Ali Curung
Alpurrurulam
Arlparra (Utopia)
14 June 18
14 June 18
13 June 18
15 June 18
Alice Springs Town Council
Alice Springs
Central Desert Regional Council
Shire Office (Alice Springs)
Nyrippi
Lajamanu
Yuendumu
Willowra
Ti-Tree
Laramba
Engawala
Atitjere (Harts Range)
Yuelamu
25 Mar 15
26 Mar 15
25 Mar 15
27 Mar 15
24 Mar 15
24 Mar 15
26 Mar 15
23 Mar 15
23 Mar 15
27 Mar 15
MacDonnell Regional Council
Shire Office (Alice Springs)
Areyonga
Haasts Bluff
Imanpa
Docker River
Hermannsburg (Ntaria)
Papunya
Kintore
Wallace Rockhole
Amoonguna
Finke
Santa Teresa
Titjikala
Mount Liebig
22 Jul 16
19 Jul 16
21 Jul 16
20 Jul 16
19 Jul 16
21 Jul 16
22 Jul 16
18 Jul 16
18 Jul 16
22 Jul 16
20 Jul 16
Schedule 11 (cont.)
Visits/Public Hearings to local governing bodies
27 — Organisation and People
Schedule 12
Local governing bodies that failed to lodge 2016-17 annual financial statements by the date specified
Belyuen Community Government Council
Katherine Town Council
MacDonnell Regional Council
Tiwi Islands Regional Council
Northern Territory Grants Commission Annual Report 2017/18 — 28 28 — Schedules
Appendix A
National principles for the allocation of general purpose and local road grants
A. The national principles relating to the allocation of general purpose grants payable under section 6 of the Local Government (Financial Assistance) Act 1995 (the Act) among local governing bodies are as follows:
1. Horizontal equalisation
General purpose grants will be allocated to all local governing bodies as far as practicable on a full horizontal equalisation basis as defined by the Act. This is a basis that ensures that each local governing body in the state/territory is able to function by reasonable effort at a standard not lower than the average standard of other local governing bodies in the state. It takes account of differences in the expenditure required by those local governing bodies in the performance of their functions and in the capacity of those local governing bodies to raise revenue.
2. Effort neutrality
An effort or policy neutral approach will be used in assessing the expenditure requirement and revenue raising capacity of each local governing body. This means as far as possible policies of individual local governing bodies in terms of expenditure and revenue effort will not affect the grant determination.
3. Minimum grant
The minimum general purpose grant allocation for a local governing body in a year will not be less than the amount to which the local governing body would be eligible to receive if 30 per cent of the total amount of general purpose grants to which the state/territory is entitled under section 9 of the Act in respect of the year were allocated among local governing bodies in the state/territory on a per capita basis.
4. Other grant support
Other relevant grant support provided to local governing bodies to meet any of the expenditure needs assessed should be taken into account using an inclusion approach.
5. Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders
Financial assistance shall be allocated to councils in a way which recognises the needs of Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders within their boundaries.
6. Council amalgamation
Where two or more local governing bodies are amalgamated into a single body the general purpose grant provided to the new body for each of the four years following amalgamation should be the total of the amounts that would have been provided to the former bodies in each of those years if they had remained separate entities.
B. The national principle relating to the allocation of the amounts payable under Section 12 of the Act (the identified road component of the financial assistance grants) among local governing bodies is as follows:
1. Identified road component
The identified road component of the financial assistance grants should be allocated to local governing bodies as far as practicable on the basis of the relative needs of each local governing body for roads expenditure and to preserve its road assets. In assessing road needs relevant considerations include length type and usage of roads in each local governing area.
29 — Appendices
Appendices
Appendix B
Methodology and formula factors
Introduction
The Northern Territory Grants Commission’s methodology conforms to the requirement for horizontal equalisation as set out in section 6 (3) of the Australian Government Local Government (Financial Assistance) Act 1995.
The Commission in assessing relative need for allocating general purpose funding uses the balanced budget approach to horizontally equalise based on the formula:
Assessed expenditure need - assessed revenue capacity = assessed equalisation requirement.
The methodology calculates standards by applying cost adjustors and average weightings to assess each local government’s revenue raising capacity and expenditure need. The assessment is the Commission’s measure of each local government’s ability to function at the average standard in accordance with the national principles. Details regarding the national principles are at Appendix A.
Population
For the 2008-09 allocations the Commission resolved to use the latest ABS estimated resident population figures and then adjust the figures to align with the population total advised to Canberra from Northern Territory Treasury. The Northern Territory’s funding is based on this total population figure. The same rationale was used for the 2018-19 calculations.
Revenue raising capacity
As the ownership of the land on which many communities are located is vested in land trusts established pursuant to the Commonwealth Government Aboriginal Lands Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 it is not for all intents and purposes feasible to use a land valuation system solely as the means for assessing revenue raising capacity.
The collection of actual accurate financial data through the Commission’s annual returns enabled a number of revenue categories to be introduced including municipal and regional council rates, domestic waste and interest.
In addition to accord with the national principles other grant support to local governing bodies by way of the Roads to Recovery, library and local roads grants are recognised in the revenue component of the methodology. In the case of recipients of the Roads to Recovery grants 50 per cent of the grant was included. Recipients of library grants and local roads grants have the total amount of the grant included.
The Commission considers that given unique circumstances within the Territory this overall revenue raising capacity approach provides a reasonable indication of a council’s revenue raising capacity.
For the 2018-19 allocations financial data in respect of the 2016-17 financial year was used.
Northern Territory Grants Commission Annual Report 2017/18 — 30
Expenditure needs
The assessment of standard expenditure is based on the Territory average per capita expenditure within the expenditure categories to which cost adjustors reflecting the assessed disadvantage of each local government are applied.
The Commission currently uses the nine expenditure categories in accordance with the Australian Bureau of Statistics Local Government Purpose Classifications. In the 2012-13 grant calculations an additional expenditure category was created (Regional Centre Recognition) to acknowledge the financial drains on municipal councils caused by urban drift. This expenditure category had been used in all subsequent grant processes with the exception of the 2016-17 and 2017-18 calculations where the Commission quarantined a pool totaling $200 000 and subsequently allocated $135 000 and $65 000 to the Alice Springs and Katherine councils respectively.
When the grants were calculated in 2018-19 using the estimated resident population data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics 2016 census, a number of councils had population decreases. The previous quarantined parameter applied in 2016-17 and 2017-18 to the Katherine and Alice Springs councils was difficult to justify in the 2018-19 calculations when six other councils would have received reductions in funding that were difficult to absorb. To mitigate this, the Commission resolved to redistribute the $200 000 quarantined amount to buffer funding reductions across all councils as a result of the population decreases.
Consequently the Commission implemented a 5% loss assist factor into the 2018-19 methodology. The rationale for implementing the loss assist factor was that it was only applied to councils that stood to receive a loss greater than 5% in grant funding. A total of 6 councils benefited from the loss assist parameter which totalled $355 974.
Cost adjustors
The Commission uses cost adjustors to reflect a local government’s demographics, geographical location, its external access and the area over which it is required to provide local government services. All these influence the cost of service delivery. The cost adjustors used by the Commission for 2018-19 are shown at Schedule 2. There are three cost adjustors being: location, dispersion and Aboriginality.
Minimum grants
For most local governments, the assessed expenditure needs exceed the assessed revenue capacity, meaning there is an assessed need. In four cases, assessed revenue capacity is greater than assessed expenditure need, meaning that there is no assessed need. However, as the legislation requires that local governments cannot get less than 30 per cent of what they would have been allocated had the funding been distributed solely on the basis of population, four local government councils still receive a grant, or what is referred to as the minimum grant.
31 — Appendices
Formula
1. Revenue component
All councils:
Assessed revenue raising capacity = Total identified local government revenue
Total local government revenue = Assessed NT average revenue + other grant support + budget term
Where
Revenue category = Domestic waste, garbage, municipal rates, regional and shire rates, special rates parking, special rates other, fines and interest
Domestic waste = Per capita
Garbage other = Actual
Municipal council rates = Average rate
Regional and Shire rates = Per capita
Interest = Actual
State income by revenue category 2016-17
= Actual state local government gross income
Actual state local government gross income 2016-17
= $188 339 341
Other grant support = Roads to Recovery grant 2017-18 50%, library grant 2017-18 and roads grant 2017-18
Budget term = Population x per capita amount
Total local government revenue for 2018-19 allocations
= $316 883 063
Northern Territory Grants Commission Annual Report 2017/18 — 32
2. Expenditure components (a) General public services ($113 027 693)
Community population/Northern Territory population x general public services expenditure x Aboriginality
(b) Public order and safety ($18 892 202)
Community population/Northern Territory population x public order and safety expenditure x (location + dispersion + Aboriginality)
(c) Economic affairs ($45 843 161)
Community population/Northern Territory population x economic affairs expenditure x (location + dispersion)
(d) Environmental protection ($17 333 343)
Community population/Northern Territory population x environmental protection expenditure
(e) Housing and community amenities ($42 097 825)
Community population/Northern Territory population x housing and community amenities expenditure x (location + dispersion + Aboriginality)
(f) Health ($3 469 502)
Community population/Northern Territory population x health expenditure x (location + dispersion + Aboriginality)
(g) Recreation, culture and religion ($51 302 627)
Community population/Northern Territory population x recreation, culture and religion expenditure x (location + dispersion)
(h) Education ($584 985)
Community population/Northern Territory population x education expenditure x (location + dispersion + Aboriginality)
(i) Social protection ($24 331 725)
Community population/Northern Territory population x social protection expenditure x (location + dispersion + Aboriginality)
Total local government expenditure of $316 883 063 apportioned over each expenditure component.
33 — Appendices
3. Local road grant funding
To determine the local road grant, the Commission applies a weighting to each council by road length and surface type. These weightings are:
Road type Weighting
Sealed 27.0
Gravel 12.0
Cycle path 10.0
Formed 7.0
Unformed 1.0
The general purpose location factor is also applied to recognise relative isolation.
Application of cost adjustors
Expenditure category Population Location Dispersion Aboriginality
Housing and community amenities
Public order and safety
Environmental protection
General public services
Social protection
Education
Health
Recreation, cultural and religion
Economic affairs
(Shaded areas indicate when cost adjustor applies)
Northern Territory Grants Commission Annual Report 2017/18 — 34
Appendix C
The Australian Classification of Local Government (ACLG)
Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Identifiers Category
URBAN (U) Capital City (CC) UCC
Population more than 20 000
Metropolitan developed (D)
Part of an urban centre of more than 1 000 000 or population density more than 600/sq km
Small (S)
Medium (M)
Large (L)
Very Large (V)
Up to 30 000
30 001-70 000
70 001-120 000
more than 120 000
UDS
UDM
UDL
UDV
or
Population density more than 30 persons per sq km
Regional Towns/City (R)
Part of an urban centre with population less than 1 000 000 and predominantly urban in nature
Small (S)
Medium (M)
Large (L)
Very Large (V)
Up to 30 000
30 001-70 000
70 001-120 000
more than 120 000
URS
URM
URL
URV
or
90% or more of LGA population is urban
Fringe (F)
A developing LGA on the margin of a developed or regional urban centre
Small (S)
Medium (M)
Large (L)
Very Large (V)
Up to 30 000
30 001-70 000
70 001-120 000
more than 120 000
UFS
UFM
UFL
UFV
Rural (R)
An LGA with population less than 20 000
Significant growth (SG)
Average annual population growth more than 3%, population more than 5000 and not remote
Not applicable RSG
and
Population density less than 30 persons per sq km
Agricultural (A) Small (S)
Medium (M)
Large (L)
Very Large (V)
Up to 2 000
2 001-5 000
5 001-10 000
10 001-20 000
RAS
RAM
RAL
RAV
and
Less than 90% of LGA population is urban
Remote (T) Extra Small (X)
Small (S)
Medium (M)
Large (L)
Up to 400
401-1 000
1 001-3 000
3 001-20 000
RTX
RTS
RTM
RTL
35 — Appendices
Appendix D
Northern Territory local governments by classification
Council ACLG Classification
Alice Springs Town Council URS
Barkly Regional Council RTL
Belyuen Community Government Council RTX
Central Desert Regional Council RTL
City of Darwin UCC
City of Palmerston URM
Coomalie Community Government Council RTM
East Arnhem Regional Council RTL
Katherine Town Council URS
Litchfield Council UFS
MacDonnell Regional Council RTL
Roper Gulf Regional Council RTL
Tiwi Islands Regional Council RTM
Victoria Daly Regional Council RTL
Wagait Shire Council RTS
West Arnhem Regional Council RTL
West Daly Regional Council RTL
Northern Territory Grants Commission Annual Report 2017/18 — 36
Appendix E
Northern Territory map of local government areas
37 — Appendices
Appendix F
Independent Auditor’s Report to the Minister for Housing and Community Development Northern Territory Grants Commission
Northern Territory Grants Commission Annual Report 2017/18 — 38
39 — Appendices
Northern Territory Grants Commission Annual Report 2017/18 — 40
41 — Appendices
Appendix G
Northern Territory Grants Commission Annual Report 2017/18 — 42
43 — Appendices
Northern Territory Grants Commission Annual Report 2017/18 — 44
The painting depicts the role of the Grants Commission as a transmitter of information, policy and funding recommendations. In the painting the members of the Grants Commission are depicted by the larger black horseshoe shapes. They are sitting facing the members of Local Government Councils, represented by the smaller black horseshoes in the north, south, east and west directions.
As can be seen the Grants Commission role is represented by two larger horseshoe shapes joined together. This representation shows the Grants Commission facing Councillors on the one hand, and the Northern Territory and Federal Governments (the centre circle with the white horseshoe shape) on the other. The smaller oblong
shapes between the Commission and the Governments are provided by the artist to show the movement of the Commission visiting Councils and taking reports back to central government.
The larger oblong shapes between the Council groupings represent two areas of land. The upper ones depict native title area boundaries, and the lower ones depict Local Government area boundaries. The background is the ‘country’ within which all of these events take place.
Painting by Cr. Francis Kelly, Past Member of NT Grants Commission
Account above is based on a conversation with Cr. Kelly