BIRKENHEAD RATES.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 172, 21 July 1921, Page 4

BIRKENHEAD RATES.

INCREASED LEVY IMPOSED. The-rates .or tile Birkenhead Borough for the present financial year were struck at a meeting of the Council last nipbt on the motion of the Mayor, Mr. J." W. Court, seconded by Cr. E. C. Walton. The rates, which are assessed on the unimproved value, are: General rate, 3 7-32 d, hospital rate fl-ltld, loan interest rates 1 23-32 d. totalling sid in the .£, which is an increase of seven- | eighths of a penny in the pound compared with last year's* total of -lid. Water rates of one penny and a hall-penny respectively were levied in respect to consumers and non-consumer;. The annual sanitation charge was raised from 2G/ to 32/6. The Mayor, in moving to strike the rates, referred to the high charge of 7 per cent for overdraft interest, at the bank, and considered it wiser to raise the rates than provide for a greater deficit than that anticipated of -2043. which was practically a reduction of £100 of the debit at the beginning of this financial year. The expenditure in the general account provides for the debit of £2132 with which the year commenced £1500 cash and £630 "sundry liabilities). Other expenditure includes £556 for administration, £2920 for public works, £100 for fire prevention, £450 for new plant, £100 for street and reserves planting, £150 for improvements to Council Chambers and environs, and £627 for miscellaneous items—altogether £4903, or a total of £7035. The receipts, including unpaid rates £470, are expected to be £860, which will be. supplemented liy the rate of 3 7-32 d, producinsr £4132, bringing the total to £4992. the anticipated deficit at the end of March next being £2043.