Akaroa withdrawal a mistake, board says
It would be “a serious proposition” if the Akaroa County Council decided to withdraw from the North Canterbury Catchment Board, according to the board’s chairman, Mr M. J. L. Dixon. Mr Dixon was commenting on a recent call by' two Akaroa County councillors for the council to quit the board. “It would be a great mistake for the council to go it alone and a disservice to the area,” he said. According to Cr R. K. Craw, the rate demand from' the board had nearly doubled from .$10,588 during the 1979,80 year to $20,033 this year. This had resulted in a 3.07 per cent increase in the county's rates. But Mr Dixon said the board's administration rate
had increased by 17 per cent, “which exactly’parallels the Akaroa County increase and the rate of inflation.” The main reason for the rate rise was “equalisation,” Mr Dixon said. “Counties are valued at five-yearly intervals and each revaluation is done at different times,” Mr Dixon said. The board bases the rates on capital values estimated by the Valuation. Department. Because these valuations are done at different times they often become out of date. To compensate for the Akaroa valuation’s being out-of-date, another 24 per cent has been added -to the original 17 per cent to give an increase of 41 per cent. “If we did not increase the
rate at all, when equalisation is applied, there would automatically be a 24 per cent increase/’ Mr Dixon said. “Rural valuations are increasing at a faster rate than those for urban areas, and rural areas are carrying a bigger load. "A total of $17,000 went into Akaroa last year by way of Government subsidies as a result of catchment activities. “Many more jobs are being created in the county as the demand for our resources increases rapidly.” Mr Dixon said that the Catchment Board offered a pool of expertise in soil conservation and engineering. • “The chairman of the Akaroa County Council is quite right when he says that the board assists people with schemes to increase land production,” Mr Dixon said.
Akaroa withdrawal a mistake, board says
Press, 6 June 1981, Page 2
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