Each year SOLGM commissions BERL to produce ten year rolling forecasts of movements in key local authority input costs for local authorities to use when planning. These are released in October (based on the timetable for release of June Quarter economic data).
From this year forward – SOLGM and LGNZ have also commissioned BERL to produce a composite index of costs based on analysis of local authority expenditure patterns – a council rate of inflation if you like.
Download the Forecasts of Price Level Change Adjustors October 2010 (PDF 343 kb)
The SOLGM Financial Management Working Party (FMWP) commissioned regional level projected estimates of household income for the period 2009-19. These figures have been derived from the same Computable General Equilibrium model that is used in preparation of the price level adjustors.
There is no presumption or expectation that a council would use these over other data, or that a council must consider these in any discussion around affordability. However many people confuse affordability (or genuine ability to pay) with willingness to pay. These may be useful for those local authorities who are interested in producing robust information on the affordability of their rates to inform or support their policy judgments. If you link these estimates with the rate levels in your local authority you have a useful analytical tool.
Download the BERL Forecast Estimates of Household Income here