The council this week released its third-quarter financial report for the period January 1 to March 31, and chief executive Michael Ross said the report indicated that so far this year the council had achieved a surplus of $1.2 million.
Mr Ross said the surplus was $925,000 more than the council had budgeted for.
''This has been driven by both increased revenue and lower costs.''
He added that a revenue gain had been noted ''across all groups'', and was ''the accumulation of a number of small and medium-sized gains, rather than a single event''.
''Overall, officers have responded to the challenge of trying to reduce the cost of council to ratepayers and residents. The results highlighted in this report and the budgets presented as part of the 2013-14 draft annual plan reflect the success in meeting that challenge.''
The council was ''in a very sound financial position'', he said.
Activity revenue from council-owned parks and recreational facilities rose from $636,000 in the equivalent quarter last year, to $741,000, which was $156,000 more than budgeted.
Sports and recreation operating revenue was $105,000 more than originally budgeted for the period, and the council said that was due to ''increased camping ground revenue and greater-than-expected recovery of old debt''.
Oamaru Opera House operating revenue more than doubled from the corresponding period last year. Operating revenue rose from $134,000 to $286,000, $37,000 more than budgeted.
Better-than-budgeted rental income and donations for the Omarama Hall project were credited with a boost in operating revenue from council-owned community buildings. Operating revenue from community buildings rose from $310,000 to $473,000, which was $173,000 more than budgeted.
