GENERAL RATE UNCHANGED.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20917, 26 July 1933, Page 8

GENERAL RATE UNCHANGED.

THE CITY'S FINANCES. ASSISTANCE FROM M.E.D. FUNDS. OTHER AUTHORITIES INCREASE LEVIES. Although it agreed to take .C 15,000 from the funds of the Municipal Electricity Department, the City Council at a special meeting last night could find no further relief for the ratepayers of Christchurch. The general rate is to remain at 2ld in the £ on unimproved value. On the Government valuation this rate is estimated to produce a sum of £112,525, or A: 12,738 less than the amount required. The additional X. 15,000 will cover this deficiency, and allow for a small balance to meet contingencies. The estimated expenditure for the current year is £10G,620, which is £9OO more than the amount actually spent last year, but nearly £SOOO less than last year's vote. The estimated expenditure by the individual departments, and the estimated expenditure ci ucampioyment are as follows: - Soe-. V.,U-a i9ji;-.;.-i. i: y. By-law.-;, fmr'nce and departmental . . Abattoir and reserves 9,!)1u 9.945 Baths and eiite-rtnin-ments .. 1.130 1.000 Water supplv works, and sanitary . . 89.069 91.036 n. K. McDougall an gallery 096 520 Relief ol unemployment 20,003 18,309 Contingencies 15 Tot.-. Is % 165.739 160,017 Committee's Report. Alter a long discussion lasting until midnight, the council adopted the following report and recommendation from its finance committee:— "In framing these estimates the committee has provided for the minimum expenditure required for the efficient administration of the council's services. "The estimates ot the works and reserves departments, after reconsideration by these committees, have been reduced by £10,789 and £ 1738 respectively. j "The total estimated expenditure for the year amounts to £166,664 19s 3d, as compared with £171,530 14s lOd for last financial year. While the total estimated expenditure for the year is £4866 less than last year, the amount to be raised by rate is £11,799 more, this being due to the fact that no transfers have been estimated for as were made last year, when £12,000 was transferred from the Halswell quarries account and £6388 was transferred from the electricity department's general account. "As the rate struck last year (2Jd in the £ ) on this year's valuation would produce only £112,525 18s 3d, or £12,733 less than the amount required, and in view of the fact that it is not desired to increase the rate in the £, the committee recommends that a sum of £15,000 be allocated from the Municipal Electricity Department account to make up the deficiency, and to provide a small balance to meet any contingencies which may arise during the year." Transfer of Property. To this recommendation was added, at the Mayor's suggestion, a provision that the Municipal Electricity Department should receive from the council in exchange for the transfer of money the property which adjoins it and faces on Gloucester street, now containing the destructor and the ramp. The rates levied by the City Council on its own behalf and on behalf of the other local bodies which it represents will be formally struck at a further special meeting of the council next month. There is little prospect of the ratepayers receiving relief from these other authorities, for the North Canterbury Hospital Board, the Christchurch Fire Board, and the Christchurch Drainage Board have all notified the council that slight increases in their levies will be necessary.