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In 2002-03, the operating expenses of all Tasmanian councils totalled $532.5 million. Depreciation and amortisation accounted for nearly a quarter (24.7%) of these expenses. Depreciation and amortisation expenses constituted 46.1% of total expenses for Central Highlands, the highest proportion in the state, reflecting its relatively high proportion of council-owned roads.

Interest accounted for only 1.7% of total operating expenses for Tasmanian councils, indicating low levels of overall debt. Interest expense was the highest proportion of total expenses for George Town (5.1%) and Brighton (4.1%).

LOCAL GOVERNMENT EXPENSES, Tasmanian local government councils - 2002-03
		Depreciation and amortisation expenses	Interest paid	Government levies paid	All other expenses(a)	Total operating expenses
Local government council		$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000
Greater Hobart-Southern
	Brighton	1,853	425	469	7,616	10,363
	Central Highlands	3,050	-	173	3,387	6,610
	Clarence	8,840	1,177	2,962	28,348	41,327
	Derwent Valley	1,746	206	293	6,823	9,068
	Glamorgan/Spring Bay	1,397	194	254	5,085	6,930
	Glenorchy	9,599	1,743	3,324	35,884	50,550
	Hobart	21,866	846	6,336	54,512	83,560
	Huon Valley	2,723	226	471	10,201	13,621
	Kingborough	6,287	117	1,081	16,478	23,963
	Sorell	3,854	236	422	7,118	11,630
	Southern Midlands	2,595	97	213	4,138	7,043
	Tasman	588	52	151	3,539	4,330
	Total	64,398	5,319	16,149	183,129	268,995
Northern
	Break O'Day	1,968	121	293	4,570	6,952
	Dorset	2,831	49	295	6,309	9,484
	Flinders	1,386	-	49	3,472	4,907
	George Town	1,510	369	275	5,130	7,284
	Launceston	18,166	546	4,903	48,934	72,549
	Meander Valley	3,545	-	901	9,037	13,483
	Northern Midlands	3,215	-	443	7,389	11,047
	West Tamar	3,374	202	851	9,004	13,431
	Total	35,995	1,287	8,010	93,845	139,137
Mersey-Lyell
	Burnie	7,879	414	1,288	17,693	27,274
	Central Coast	4,890	193	612	13,177	18,872
	Circular Head	2,176	136	337	8,589	11,238
	Devonport	7,762	897	1,642	20,276	30,577
	Kentish	1,316	44	176	2,976	4,512
	King Island	1,191	6	100	4,278	5,575
	Latrobe	1,690	106	315	5,154	7,265
	Waratah/Wynyard	2,530	259	414	8,660	11,863
	West Coast	1,452	212	218	5,316	7,198
	Total	30,886	2,267	5,102	86,119	124,374
Total all councils		131,279	8,873	29,261	363,093	532,506
- nil or rounded to zero (a) Includes expenditure on goods and services, employee salaries, wages, superannuation, etc. For more detailed data, see 'Further Information' below. Source: Measuring Council Performance in Tasmania 2002-03, Department of Premier and Cabinet