"SATISFACTORY."

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 93, 20 April 1932, Page 9

"SATISFACTORY."

MANUKAU COUNTY FINANCES. REPORT BY TREASURER. DETAILS OF REVENUE FOR YEAR. "The position of the general account is very satisfactory," states a report covering the finances of the Manukau County Council, prepared by the county clerk and treasurer, Mr. E. Ashcroft. It was presented at a meeting of the county council pending the annual balance. "For budgeting purposes the sum of £7500 was set aside as the balance in the general account, to be divided among the ridings. The expenditure in this account was £19,59G, with receipts £13,947, leaving only a balance of £5049 to be divided. This is the lowest for several years. During the year the ridings were given credit for £1355, being the amount refunded from the Mangere waterworks loan, so that there is £490 due to the ridings. The sum of £12,290 was spent by the county during the year on relief works, and this was refunded by the Unemployment Board. The value of buildings for which permits were issued was £2G,2G9 10/. The cost of administration in the county worked out at slightly less than 4 per cent on the total receipts, f "In accordance with the policy adopted by the council last year, when preparing the estimates, the general, hospital and special rates were reduced by a sum of £4513 as against the previous year's rates, and with the subsidy received from the Government from the Main Highways fund which amounted to £4408, the total reduction afforded county ratepayers totalled £8981, or approximately 24 per cent of the previous year's rate revenue. The total cash receipts amounted to £93,577 and the expenditure to £85,917. Bank balances were £21,415, credit." Details of rate collections were also shown. Of the current amount struck in 1931-32 (£33,323 10/), £28,925 had been collected as at the end of March. At that date in 1931 arrears outstanding were £0900. At the end of March this year £3903 had been collected. The percentages were: Collected on current account;, 80.8 per cent; on arrears, 5G.5 per cent; 10 per cent penalties collected, £299. Approximately 93 per cent of the revenue budgeted for had been gathen.-d in. Revenue from the Main Highways, exclusive of the rate subsidy, totalled £0704. The council commented favourably on the financial position, and expressed appreciation of the work done by the county treasurer.