Heathcote Rate Rise To 1d In £

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29245, 1 July 1960, Page 13

Heathcote Rate Rise To 1d In £

The Heathcote County Council last evening increased its rate from 7-8 d in the £ on capital value to Id in the £. ' The rate of Id in the £ will mean an increase of £1 Ils 3d on a property with a capital value of £3OOO, about an average valuation figure for holdings in the county. The increased rate will produce £29,589 from the county’s rateable capital value of £7,101,510. Estimated expenditure on standing charges for the financial year is £39,836. Estimated receipts are £15,701, leaving £24,135 to be recovered from rates. The amount of £29,589 produced by the increased rate will allow a surplus of £5454 for works other than roading. Councillors were agreed on the need to increase the rate. The increase marked a milestone in the history of the county, said the chairman (Mr R. A. Young). “We are now embarking on an engineering department with a qualified engineer—the mark of a progressive county, which this one is,” Mr Young said. “Now that the decision to increase the rate has been made, I am sure the people of the county will benefit. “We are still rating very low by most county standards,” Mr Young said. “We are paying more for labour and more for materials, but we are determined to improve our county.” Fire Protection Rate The same rate as last year C.0625d in the £> will be struck for the Christchurch Fire Board’s levy, producing £lB4O. and after payment of the levy and administration charges, leaving a balance of £BO to be carried forward. A rate of £2 4s per cent, of annual value Was fixed for the Cashmere water supply, an increase of 4s per cent, on annual value, or about 2s 6d a £lOOO of capital value. The increase is needed to liquidate the deficit caused last

year by the installation of the Takahe water supply. Items of Expenditure The four main items in the county’s estimated expenditure of £39.836 are administration expenses (£6117), roading works (£21,334), general engineering expenses (£10,385) and contingencies (£2000). The estimated receipts of £15,701 are from National Roads Board subsidies and grants (£B5OO and £1500), commissions (£1450), building fees (£900), licences (£700), road and culvert fees (£290), chargeable work (£100), sundry receipts (£80), and a credit balance carried forward of £2lBl. Administration The main details of the £6117 to be expended on administration are: Salaries (£4500), advertising and stationery (£350), rent and lighting (£440), insurances (£360), chairman’s allowance (£200), health inspectors salary (£300), donations and grants (£180), Cashmere Junior Library (£272), miscellaneous (£300). Roading Works Details of the £21,334 to be expended on roading works are: General maintenance (£4000), Summit road maintentance (£1500), resealing (£4570), bridge renewals (£2924), minor improvements (£3790), Hackthorne road (£2500), and street lighting (£1650). Engineering The main details of the £10,385 to be expended on engineering ex, penses are; Salaries (£3400), truck and plant expenses (£3900), plant renewal fund (£1000), transport £480), Regional Planning Authority (£490).