Increase Of $14,000 Estimated By Council

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31677, 13 May 1968, Page 9

Increase Of $14,000 Estimated By Council

The estimated income and expenditure account for the Waiwera County Council for 1968-69 is $71,407, $14,076 more than the amount spent in the last financial year, the County Clerk (Mr W. F. Aydon ) - said at the monthly meeting of the council at Little River on Friday. Rates for the next year .would be $35,633, slightly more than last year but at a lower rate per dollar of valuation. The new valuation of the land in the county was $5,240,170, he said, and the general rate required for the year would be $.0068 in the dollar against $.0070 last year. Although the drop in the rate was small, the county had suffered flood damage, of which it would have to pay one-third. Councillor T. D. Barwick

said the rate should be raised 2} per cent so that the interest on the council’s overdraft could be dropped. A rebate of the same amount for the rates would be granted if the rates were paid by Christmas. Mr Aydon said that if the rates were raised, rebate or not, the council would have to strike a higher rate and justify the higher estimated expenditure. The bank overdraft was increasing each year, Cr Barwick said. It was $145 last year, when estimated at $BO, and the amount estimated for this year was $l6O. Some years ago the council had no overdraft and a handsome reserve. The reserve was offset by better amenities today and the amount paid in interest was too small when compared with the total expenditure of $71,000, the chairman (Cr W. S. L. Mcßae) said.