Financial Ratios


The Financial Health Indicator (FHI) is a measurement of a local government’s overall financial health. It is calculated from the seven financial ratios that local governments are required to calculate annually. An FHI result of 70 and above indicates sound financial health. The maximum result achievable is 100. The FHI is one factor to consider in assessing overall performance. Other factors include: the range of services offered; efficiency of services delivered; and community satisfaction. A very high or low FHI may be a prompt for questions to be asked by the community about a local government’s revenue, expenses and service delivery. The FHI is best viewed as a trend over time. When interpreting FHI data on the radar charts below, a larger rounder shape is better than a smaller shape. Ratio results that a closer to the centre indicate areas where attention may be required and improvement can be made. Find out more information about the FHI methodology (DOCX 1.4MB).

DATA SOURCE: Calculation from financial ratios published in the local government’s Annual Financial Report

* Indicates data is unavailable.

Long-term Liabilities


A local government’s long term or ‘non-current liabilities’ include debt that is due to be paid in a period greater than 12 months, their staff leave entitlements and other liabilities.

DATA SOURCE: Local government’s Annual Financial Report

* Indicates data is unavailable.

Value of Assets


Local governments are required to estimate the total value of their assets. Sound asset management ensures that the cost of replacing assets at the end of their useful life is considered in a local government’s long term financial plan.

DATA SOURCE: Local government’s Annual Financial Report

* Indicates data is unavailable.

Financial Health Indicator Comparisons


This table provides a comparison of Financial Health Indicator results.

DATA SOURCE: Calculation from financial ratios published in the local government’s Annual Financial Report

 90-100  70-89  50-69  0-49
* Indicates data is unavailable.

Revenue


A local government’s revenue comprises all sources of money that contribute to its operating budget. Local governments in Western Australia generate revenue from rates, fees and charges for services, and grants from the State and Commonwealth governments. In some cases, local governments also receive funding through property-developer contributions and sales of assets and property.

DATA SOURCE: Local government’s Annual Financial Report

Cash Reserves


Local governments are permitted to set aside money to be used for designated purposes in a future financial year. Reserve accounts may be created for future asset upgrades or replacements, employee costs, specific projects or a number of other initiatives.

DATA SOURCE: Local government Annual Financial Report

Operating Expenditure by Program


Under the Local Government Act 1995, councils must vote to accept an annual budget that sets out the local government’s spending priorities. A local government’s annual budget is informed by its Strategic Community Plan which is developed with the community. Engaging with the community enables a local government to be responsive to community needs and ensures that expenditure and prioritisation of public funds is in line with community expectations. The Local Government (Financial Management) Regulations 1996 specify 11 broad program areas that local governments are to use when reporting expenditure. These program areas are defined below.

DATA SOURCE: Western Australian Local Government Grants Commission

Expenditure by Nature & Type


Local governments are required to report their expenditure by nature and type. Expenditure is classified into five categories defined in the Western Australian Local Government Accounting Manual.

DATA SOURCE: Western Australian Local Government Grants Commission

Rate Growth


Rates are a tax on property levied by local governments to fund the shortfall between their planned expenditure and all other income they receive, including from local government grants. The Local Government Act 1995 and the Valuation of Land Act 1978 prescribe the methods for assessing the rateable value of property and the types of rates which can be levied. Each local government determines a rate in the dollar which is multiplied by the assigned value of the property. Rate revenue includes general rates, differential rates, specific area rates, minimum rates, interim rates, back rates, ex-gratia rates - less discounts offered. This does not include administration fees, interest on instalments, and interest on arrears or service charges. This graph shows the total growth in local government rate revenue for the local government selected. For more information about your rates contact your local government.

Note: Average rating data is not currently provided due to the dataset being incomplete. To provide this information now would not provide an accurate result.

DATA SOURCE: Calculation from rate revenue published in the local government’s Annual Financial Report

* Indicates data is unavailable.

Additional Information


This table provides a comparison of demographic and other information.

DATA SOURCE: Local government Annual Financial Report, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Western Australian Local Government Grants Commission, West Australian Electoral Commission

* Indicates data is unavailable.

Total Councillor Renumeration


Councillors, including Mayors and Shire Presidents, receive meeting fees and may receive allowances or have certain council-related expenses reimbursed. The Local Government Act 1995 describes the types of fees, allowances and reimbursable expenses that council members are entitled to claim. The Salaries and Allowances Tribunal sets council member meeting fees and allowances payable. The Local Government (Financial Management) Regulations 1996 requires that local governments report the fees, allowances and reimbursed expenses paid to council members. This table shows the remuneration paid to council as a whole by payment type. This amount does not include interstate and overseas travel paid for by local government or third-parties undertaken on council business.

DATA SOURCE: Local government Annual Financial Report

WASTE COLLECTED BY SERVICE TYPE


Western Australian local governments provide a range of waste and recycling services to their residents. Reported below are waste and recycling services that are provided directly to households, which include kerbside bin collections and vergeside collections for bulky items. The total quantity of domestic waste collected by each local government is dependent on factors such as the number and type of dwellings and the socioeconomic characteristics of the local government area.

DATA SOURCE: Data are voluntarily reported by local governments to the annual Census of Western Australian Local Government Waste and Recycling Services. The accuracy of the reported data is not independently verified.

About this table

Shown as tonnes of waste collected by service type.

Kerbside general waste to landfill

A regular, containerised service where mixed waste (garbage) is collected and transported directly or via a transfer station to landfill. Typically the container is a “wheelie bin” with a red or dark green lid.

Kerbside general waste to AWT

A regular, containerised service where mixed waste (garbage) is collected and processed in an Alternative Waste Technology (AWT) facility, which are also referred to as Resource Recovery Facilities.

Kerbside co-mingled recycling

A regular, containerised service where dry recyclables, such as bottles, cans, paper, cardboard and some plastics are collected separately from mixed garbage for the purposes of recycling. Typically the container is a “wheelie bin” with a yellow lid.

Kerbside garden organics or FOGO

A regular, containerised service where organic garden waste, such as leaves, grass cuttings and small pruning wastes are collected separately from general waste. In some councils this service is extended to include food waste, commonly known as a Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) service. These waste types are generally collected for the purpose of producing organic products such as mulch, compost and soil improvers. Typically the container is a “wheelie bin” with a lime green lid.

Vergeside bulk waste

An intermittent or on-demand collection service for bulky wastes such as white goods and mattresses. Typically provided as a non-containerised service, but the use of bulk bins is increasingly common.

Vergeside bulk garden organics

An intermittent or on-demand collection service for garden organic wastes. Typically provided as a non-containerised service.

WASTE PER HOUSEHOLD – ALL SERVICES


Western Australian local governments provide a range of waste and recycling services to their residents. Reported below are waste and recycling services that are provided directly to households, which include kerbside bin collections and vergeside collections for bulky items. The average quantity of domestic waste collected from each household is dependent on factors such as the number and type of dwellings and the socioeconomic characteristics of the local government area. The average quantity of waste collected by each service type will also depend on the mix of waste and recycling services provided to households. The recovery rates shown in the table view for each service type show the percentage of materials recovered from the total amount of waste collected through the service for the selected year. Recovery rates depend on a range of factors including the degree to which waste is separated at the household (e.g. the number of bins) and the capacity and efficiency of the recycling facilities where recyclable materials are delivered.

DATA SOURCE: Data are voluntarily reported by local governments to the annual Census of Western Australian Local Government Waste and Recycling Services. The accuracy of the reported data is not independently verified. Household numbers were obtained from Western Australia Tomorrow, Population Report No. 8, Household forecasts, Band C.

About this table

Shown as kilograms of waste landfilled and recovered per household for all service types.

Landfill per household

Total quantity of waste disposed of to landfill for all services divided by the estimated number of households.

Recovered per household

Total quantity of materials recovered from waste for all services divided by the estimated number of households.

WASTE GENERATED PER CAPITA


The Western Australian Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Strategy 2030 (waste strategy) includes targets for waste avoidance to reduce the amount of waste generated in Western Australia. Waste Strategy targets are set as a reduction in waste generation per capita from 2014/2015 of 5 and 10 per cent by 2025 and 2030 respectively. Reported below is the amount of waste generated per capita for kerbside bin collections and vergeside collections for bulky and garden wastes. Reductions in waste avoidance depend on sustained behaviour change by all stakeholders. This is supported through education and incentives to increase awareness of waste avoidance and to support waste avoidance behaviours.

DATA SOURCE: Data are voluntarily reported by local governments to the annual Census of Western Australian Local Government Waste and Recycling Services. The accuracy of the reported data is not independently verified. Population numbers were obtained from Western Australia Tomorrow, Population Report No. 8, Persons, Band C.

About this table

Shown as kilograms of waste collected per capita.