Riccarton Rates Up By 11 Per Cent

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30172, 2 July 1963, Page 15

Riccarton Rates Up By 11 Per Cent

A general rate increase of 11 per cent, was levied by the Riccarton Borough Council last evening. The increase—from 2.247 d in the £ to 2.497 d —is expected to produce £32,157, compared with £28,947 from last year’s rates, on the borough’s total unimproved rateable value of £3,090,930.

There have been no changes tn the borough's street lighting rate <0688d), number 3 waterworks loan rate (.2342d) or number 2 water supply rate of 55d in the £.. The increased rates will mean that the owper of a property valued at £4226 in north-west Riccarton will receive a total rate demand this year of £46 19s lOd, compared with £4O Ils 4d last year. Of this amount, the council will receive £24 3s 7d —£3 19s 3d more than last year. The balance of £22 16s 3d will go to the ad hoc bodies.

Other examples, with last year's figures in parenthesis, are as follows: property valued at £3OOO in north-east, total rates £3B 4s 7d (£34 19s 6d), of which the council will get £2l 15s 6d (£2O 3s): property valued at £3200 in west, total rates £29 10s 2d (£26 15s lid), of which the council will get £l2 Ils 3d (£ll 12s 6d); property valued at £2750 in south-west, total rates £25 IBs 5d (£23 Ils 3d), of which the council will get £ll 6s 8d (£lO 10s). "Every endeavour has been made to keep our portion of

the rates as near uniform as possible and over the last 11 years, there have been five small increases," said the deputy-Mayor and chairman of the finance and by-laws committee (Cr. F. W. Gilbert).

The rates struck by the borough for its own purposes were low in comparison with those of many other territorial local authorities, he said.

"The council has carried on its policy of avoiding the raising of loans where possible, thereby enabling it to save interest and repayment charges which can be very considerable,” said Cr. Gilbert.

"It has continued the policy of funding amounts for commitments which it knows it will have to face in the comparatively near future. One good example of this is the fund set aside Originally for the town hall extensions and a new administrative block The town hall extensions have been completed and paid for and the new administration block is in the course of construction. It is pleasing to report that we have sufficient money set aside to pay for this building," he said. Cr. Gilbert said the finances of the council were in a very sound position. In addition to its own rates, the council will collect rates totalling £50,803 on behalf of the North Canterbury Catchment Board (£2356), Christchurch Transport Board

(£6845), Chris'.church Drainage Board (£31,681), Christchurch Fire Board (£2035), Canterbury Museum Trust (£1100), Riccarton Bush Trust (£180) and Regional Planning Authority (£600). Cr. R. S. Lester said the rate increases levied by some of the ad hoc bodies were greater than the council’s 11 per cent, increase. He hoped that one day the transport board rate would be removed from the rate demands as a large percentage of ratepayers now had their own transport. The Mayor (Mr E. J. Bradshaw) said that although no-one really like increased rates, it was mathematically impossible to meet increasing ccets without a corresponding increase in revenue.

He supported recent suggestions by other councils that fairer methods should be found for th? raising of local body finances. The main items of the council’s total estimated expenditure of £57,264. with laM year’s actual expenditure in parenthesis, are administration, £5045 (£4244); works, £40.300 (£38.877); grants and subscriptions, £534 (£275); and miscellaneous. £11.335 (£19.264). Of an estimated income of £25.107 (other than rates) the main items are: National Roads Board subsidies. £ 13,200: refunds, licences, etc. £6470; and a credit balance of £5437 from last year. The works department’s expenditure includes £30.800 for subsidised reading works. Miscellaneous items include more than £2OOO for fire protection anß a preliminary £350 towards pensioners’ flats. The council decided to reduce its excess water cnarge on rateable properties from 2s per 1000 gallons to Is 6d.