Rating Reduction Would Not Have Been Prudent

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28629, 4 July 1958, Page 6

Rating Reduction Would Not Have Been Prudent

In times when rising costs and big development programmes cause inevitable increases in central Government taxes and local body rating, the achievement of the Riccarton Borough Council in holding this year’s general rate to the 1957-58 figure is notable.

A decrease in the rate could have been managed but jt would have been undesirable. At the invitation of “The Press” the chairman of the council finance commitee (Cr. V. G. Spiller) explains why:

“By adopting a miserly and cheeseparing attitude it might have been possible to make a small reduction in the rate, but this would not have been wise or prudent and would only have had repercussions in later years when the money so saved would have had to be made up. “This council takes the view that it is its duty not only to administer the borough now but to make reasonable provision for future work and liabilities. To this end funds have been established for such matters as plant renewals and replacements, Clarence street widening, future new offices and like matters. “In this year’s estimates, adequate contribution to these funds has been allowed for and in future years the wisdom of this policy will become even more apparent. “As well as making such provision the estimates are adequate for all the works in the borough to be fully carried out in the current year. That this has been possible without an increase in the rate is a tribute to the prudent

management of the council and to the efficient manner in which the borough staff as a whole has carried out the work of the borough.” Cr. Spiller said that because the estimates prepared by the finance committee would cause no increase in the general rate levied by the borough that did not mean that there would be any reduction in the standard of maintenance and service in the borough. “On the contrary, the estimates provide fully for all necessary work and for the usual full service to which the residents of the borough have become accustomed,” he said.