Two Councils Make Rate Increases

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32005, 4 June 1969, Page 14

Two Councils Make Rate Increases

Rate increases of 5 per cent for urban Sockburn, 9 per cent for urban Hornby and Halswell and 15 per cent for the rural districts were approved by the Paparua County Council last evening. The Riccarton Borough Council increased its rates by 10 per cent for 1969-70 to produce an estimated $95,000. The increase is expected to realise an additional SSSIM).

Notice was given by the Paparua council of intention to strike general rates of 035 c in the dollar in the Sockburn county town, of 0.435 c in the Hornby county town, of 0.47 c in the Halswell county town, of 03594 c in rural Paparua and of 0.4156 c in rural Halswell.

No change was made in the high-pressure water-supply charges, but an increase of 8.3 per cent was made in stock water charges to provide for extra work to be done this year on the silt ponds at the intake, and the sanitation rate was raised by $1 to $1240.

Major factors in the rate increases, said the chairman (Mr D. H. Warren), were a rise of 7 per cent in wages and salaries, a 20 per cent increase in the Metropolitan Fire Board levy and a $2OOO increase in Regional Planning Authority costs. The council, he said, had agreed to pay $2895 a year towards the Commonwealth

Games over a five-year period, and to set up a county library fund. There were the initial costs this year of con-

verting 6000 premises to paper bag rubbish collection. Costs for reading work had risen but it was council policy to maintain a reasonable programme in the interests of progress. “The revaluation of the county in 1968 meant a reduction in the amount of rates paid on the average residential property,” said Mr Warren. Including $220,000 in rates for the drainage, catchment and transport boards, the council had collected $710,087 in rates. The council may have rated too low in the past, losing National Roads Board reading subsidy, said Cr H. W. Bennett The Hornby town committee had not been unanimous on the increase, but most members agreed that to progress there must be more revenue.

Cr L. P. Manion deplored the small amount of new sealing on rural roads—a rate increase of 15 per cent and a mile and a quarter of new seal in West Melton, which badly needed more. He moved that the sealing programme rate be referred back to the rural districts committee. Cr Manion was chairman of the rural districts committee, and it looked like a vote of no confidence from him, said Cr W. L. Ragg. “This is a council problem,” said Cr Manion. The motion was lost but it was agreed that the committee should draw up a five-year reading programme.

The council’s estimates provided for a turnover of $1,688,746, provision being made for the completion of a block of 30 pensioner's flats at Hornby, and rural townships development by a loan of $55,000. General account spending was estimated to total $203,332, of which salaries accounted for $67,000, compared with $58,000 last year. Town-planning expenses were put at $13,500, compared with SLL2II last year, and there was provision for the transfer of $lO,OOO to a land purchase account-

The Sockburn county town account made provision for spending $44,100 on new road- ■ ing work, including the reconstruction and sealing of : 168 chains of road on Midi Lincoln, Springs, Watts, Race- : course, Symes and Vickerys roads.

■ In the Hornby county town, $46,950 was provided for new i work, including $lO,OOO to buy I land for new reading in the i township. In the rural district, $65,450 was allowed for new road

work, including reconstruction and sealing on Waterholes, Weedons, Ross, Berketts, Whincops, Trents, Ellesmere, Racecourse, Harewood, Kennedy’s Bush, School and Shands roads. Riecarton The Riccarton council also increased the water works rate by 10 per cent to produce an estimated $16,500. The council will also set up a water works renewal fund to provide for future renewals and will be launched with $2OOO drawn from the water works rate.

In presenting the estimates to the council the chairman of the finance committee (Mr D. A. Anderson) said the rate increase was file first for two years. As a result less work had been done for the same amount of money. In spite of the increase, the rate was still one of the lowest in Christchurch. Mr Anderson said estimated spending for the year would be $252,850, compared with $228,917 last year. Expenditure on roads and streets would increase from $82,000 to $105,000 for both subsidised and non-subsidlsed works.

Footpath maintenance expenditure would increase from $15,000 to $18,500. General maintenance and expenditure on Mona Vale would be restricted to an absolute maximum of $4OOO, but a special amount of $5OOO would be set aside for the purchase of the property. The estimates also allow for $6OOO to be paid into a staff benefit, sickness and retirement fund and $9OOO to a Christchurch Master Transportation Plan property purchase fund. Of $2500 set aside for grants and subscriptions, $5OO is allowed for Commonwealth Games Promotion.