County costs to rise

Press, 26 May 1981, Page 6

County costs to rise

District councils in - Paparua will pay about $lBO,OOO more than last year for the general administration of the county. The Paparua County Council’s finance committee yesterday approved estimates for several of the county’s accounts. The county expects to pay out about $1.5 million for the administration of the county, compared with about $1.3 million last year. Receipts are expected to total $392,000 compared with $352,000 last year. The balance will be met by the four districts, Sockburn, Hornby, Halswell, and the rural area. The county's over-all budget for this year will be

adopted when the rates are struck at a special council meeting. The finance committee also recommended an $8320 ex gratia payment to the Canterbury Museum, in spite of opposition from some councillors. Cr G. T. Wright moved unsuccessfully that the county give only half the amount. The council’s levy to the museum board this year is $30,160, about $540 up on last year. County staff have budgeted $17,680 for the use of the new’ Metro Refuse Station in Parkhouse Road. The county engineer, Mr J. D. Annan, told the committee that the figure was based on half of

the proposed charge to commercial contractors which was $8 a tonne. .

The Metropolitan' Refuse Committee had not yet decided on the charge for localbody vehicles. The charge to Paparua for use of the station might be twice as much as estimated. ■ After an hour of discussion the committee also decided to increase by $8 the charge to households in the Templeton sewerage area. County staff had budgeted for the charge to stay at $6O. The county chairman and chairman of the finance committee, Mr J. Y. Pethig, said that it was unrealistic for the charge to householders to remain the same as last year.

Cr A. Y. Shuker said that if the council decided' on an increase it-would break an agreement made with Templeton residents. The County Clerk, Mr B. L. Mooar, said that it was a principle had been agreed to, hot a specific J charge to. householders.

The cost ot maintaining the sewerage system to about 260 households in Templeton is estimated to be $35,600 this year, compared with about $28,500 last year.