Local bodies to issue remits

Press, 9 April 1980, Page 15

Local bodies to issue remits

Voting on loan polls, deduction of . rate payments from taxation, and fees for inspection of dangerous goods stores are; the three issues Christchurch local bodies have asked the Municipal Association to take . action on at the association’s annual conference beginning .on April 16. The Kaiapoi . Borough Council will sponsor a remit asking the Govern-* ment to carry out its election policy of making all local-body rates tax-deduc-«. tible.- ■

At present, a tax rebate of $25 is allowed on residential rates. The rebate was introduced in ’ the 1978-79 financial year.

It cost the Christchurch City Council almost $9OOO

more to inspect existing and proposed dangerous goods stores than the council took in fees for .the inspection last year. As a result, the council will sponsor a remit asking that the Dangerous Goods Act, 1974, be amended so that fees can be set by local bodies. The council will also propose that all residents of a local body be allowed to vote in loan polls rath-* ier than just ratepayers., The council has noted in its explanation of the remit that most people of voting age are either direct or indirect ratepayers and the universal franchise in loan polls was a more just solution. The three-day conference will be held at Rotorua.-