SECTION 417

(1) The budgets of councils and city councils shall be prepared with due respect for the following ratios: • investment expenditure projections should not exceed 40% of total expenditure; • operating expenditure projections should not exceed 60% of total expenditure; • staff costs should not exceed 35% of operating expenditure. (2) The budget of the region shall be prepared with due respect for the following ratios: • investment expenditure projection should not exceed 60% of total expenditure; • operating expenditure estimates should not exceed 40% of total expenditure; • staff cost should not exceed 30% of operating expenditure.