Rate increase of 22 p.c. in Paparua

Press, 3 June 1981, Page 6

Rate increase of 22 p.c. in Paparua

Rates in Paparua County will rise this year an average of nearly 22 per cent. The County Chairman, Mr J. Y. Pethig. told a meeting of the council last evening that its estimated turnover for this year was $8,336,140, compared with $6,963,659 for the last financial year. The council approved rate increases in all four district councils. Rates in the Paparua Rural District Council are up 22 per cent on last year. Sockburn District Community Council rates are up 24 per cent. Hornby. District Community Council rate are up 18 per cent, and Halswell District Community Council rates up 23 per cent. The total of the 17 different fates and charges to be levied in the county is an estimated $5,002,102. High inflation had forced rate increases again this . year, Mr Pethig said. . ; “Wage and salary levels, which ccount for a substantial proportion of the council’s costs, are also one of the main contributing factors for the need to increase rates," he said. Increases in the cost of maintaining council equipment and hiring equipment had also contributed to the rate increase.

The estimates provide for spending on several big projects. The $4 million PaparuaHalswell high presure water supply scheme would, it was hoped, finish with this year’s spending of $600,000, Mr Pethig said. Maintenance and development of the council’s reserves, including Sockburn, ■ Halswell, and Templeton swimming pools, would cost about $290,000. There was an increased commitment to the Metropolitan Refuse Disposal Scheme, with provision for capital funding amounting t 0540,000. $40,000. The four libraries and cultural centre would cost $164,000. This figure included loan charges for the new Hornby library as well as funds ■ for. the Community Care Trust. The County Council contributed its fair share to metropolitan and regional facilities, Mr Pethig said. In this financial year more than 15 per cent of the general rate struck by the council’s four districts, or about $365,000, would go to these facilities. . Mr Pethig said that while costs were rising a main source of council revenue, the petrol tax. had remained static and benefits from the

scheme were being lost. The National Roads Board subsidy was making it difficult for" local authorities to programme their reading works, he said. This was because of frequent changes to the method of allocating subsidy and stringent board policy on distributing subsidy for new works. Increases jh charges for other council services were also approved. Charges for dwellings connected to the high pressure water supply in Tai Tapu Or , PaparuaHalswell are up. 25 per cent. Sanitation collection is up 32 per cent for each service , and the Templeton sewerage rate is up 13 per cent. Stock water supply is up 20 per cent. The county will collect almost $2 million for three ad hoc bodies. The rate collected for the Christchurch Drainage Board is up 11 per cent, the one for the Christchurch Transport Board is up 54 per cent, and the one for the North Canterbury Catchment Board is up 28 per cent. Rate increases in the county were higher than had been hoped, but local bodies throughout New Zealand were in a similar position, Mr Pethig said.