RICCARTON RATES.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20904, 11 July 1933, Page 10

RICCARTON RATES.

REDUCTION IN GENERAL LEVY. ESTIMATES FOR THE YEAR. Estimated receipts totalling £7199, a credit balance from last year of £226, and a total anticipated expenditure of £7425, were shown in the estimates for the year 1933-34 approved by the Riccarton Borough Council last evening. By striking a general rate of in the pound on the unimproved value of property in the borough, which amounts to £397,623, the sum of £4556 will be raised, and the balance of the income will be derived from penalties, subsidies, licenses, fees, and transfers. Last year the general rate was 2|d in the pound. The following other rates will also be struck, those for last year being shown in parentheses:— Hospital Rate—On the unimproved value of the whole borough, 29-32 d. (29-32 d.) Domains Board Rate —On the unimproved value of the whole oorough, l-12d. (l-12d.) Waimakariri River Rate —On the capital value of all the rateable property in the borough classified as class B under the River Trust's classification, 149-2750 d. (97-1100 d, including special loan rate.) Drainage Board's Rates—On the capital value of that part of the oorough lying within the drainage district known as the sewerage area, 19-64 d. (19-64 d.) And, on the capital value of that part of the borough lying within the drainage district known as Rural Riccarton, 11-128 d. (5-64 d.) A uniform annual fee of £2 10s will also be levied for each closet pan in such properties as have houses or buildings on them, and are liable for such a fee. Special Loan Collections. In addition to these rates, without prejudice to the special loah rates struck as security for the following loans, the town clerk will be instructed to collect tjic following amounts in the pound on the unimproved value, the corresponding sums collected last year being shown in parentheses:— R.S. 10, 5-16 d (5-16 d); R.S. 163, Jd (id); Dilworth street, gd (£d); Paton street, 3d (fid); Alma street, id (id); Piclon avenue, id (id); R.S. 155, 7-16 d <7-16d); R.S. 153 and 153 a, gd (id); Riccarton loan, 7-16 d (7-16 d); south area, 15-16 d central area, id (idi; eastern, 5-16 d (3-16 d); north-west area 29-32 d (2d); Clarence street widening, l-20d (l-20d); roller and truck purchase, Jd (Jd); south-west area, 3d (3d). On the capital value: Christchurch Drainage Board's special sewerage extension. lid (1 9-32 d); Waimakariri River Trust's special loan rate, 361IIOOOd (nil). The Borough Estimates. The estimates of income and expenditure are made up as follows, last year's figures being also shown:— Proposed Expenditure. 1933-34. 1932-33. £ £ General administration 647 653 Miscellaneous .. 841 1095 Public works .. 5756 5355 Redemption of roller and truck loan .. 181 260 Final instalment to meet deficit in general account .. Totalis . 7425 7753 Amount Available for Proposed Expenditure. £ £ Credit balance from last year .. 22G Licenses, refunds, etc. 2643 2993 Additional sum required, £4556: Rate of in the £ on the unimproved value (£397,623) of the borough .. 4556 4760 Totals .. 7425 7753 A resolution was passed approving of these rates and instructing the clerk to notify the public that they would be formally struck at a meeting of the council on August 7. "It is good to see that we have been able to reduce our rates," said the Mayor (Mr H: S. S. Kyle, M.P.). "The Christchurch City Council, I understand, has been unable to do so, but we have succeeded in making a reduction. I think it should be very satisfactory to the ratepayers of the borough to know that we have been able to carry on with our economy proposals and at the tame time to reduce the rates." Outstanding Rates. Cr. C. G. McKellar said the rates outstanding at March 31 in recent years had been as follows:—1931, £1861; 1932, £2600; 1933, £3149. The accounts of the borough were in a healthy state, and the council was thus in a position to reduce further its general rate. The following figures showed the trend of the reduction:— Rate in Amount Year. £. Collected. d. £. 1930-31 .. 31 5307 1931-32 .. 3 J 4577 1932-33 .. 25 4244 1933-34 .. 2J Not yet col'd. The reductions and economies brought about by the Riccarton Borough Council, he said, did not produce a reduction in the total demand for rates in proportion, for the reason that the council was a collecting agent for other local bodies, arid had no option but to collect the rates struck by these oodies. Of the total rates struck i" oi a £ fin * al year, amounting ? £16,826. the following figures RiSrtnn'r amo -V nt levied by the ■n-iccarton Council, as against that levied by other local bodies: Local body. Amount. Riccarton .. ~ 6778 Drainage Board .. 7866 Hospital Board 1501 Waimakariri R.T. .. 544 Domains Board .. 137