Riccarton rates to rise 18 per cent?

Press, 23 June 1981, Page 6

Riccarton rates to rise 18 per cent?

■ Riccarton ratepayers can expect a rate increase this y'ear of about 18 per cent. ’The Riccarton Borough Council's finance and by-laws committee recommended last evening that the rate increase this year be as near as possible to 18 per cent. ■ Estimates presented to the cpmmittee would have meant an increase of 18.74 per cent. This comprised a 16 per cent increase in water siipply rates, and a 19.42 per cent increase in general rates. ’ The'- reduction will mean that about $3OOO will have to be pruned from the original » estimated spending of $496,336. Last year’s estimated spending was $418,000. j Cr D. A. Anderson said tjiat it would be irresponsible to limit the increase to much below 18 per cent. “The influence of wages and salaries is through the vj'hole thing. We are doing pretty well if we can keep

them down to 18> per cent,” he said. , ' Cr R. S. Lester, who is nbt a committee member, said that he would be asking the council to take a look at the differential or capital rating systems. The council uses the land value, rating system.' The Mayor, Mr R. W. J. Harrington, said the council had looked at the differential rating system ' three years ago. There had been: a unanimous decision then not to use it. Rent rise < Pensioners in Riccarton who live in council housing will probably. have to pay more rent' this year. The committee recommended an increase in rent of $1 a week for the 49 single units. A $2 a week increase was recommended for the 14 double units. Costs for the flats for the 1980-81 year were pnly $635 less than the rentals received

of $35,721, the committee heard. If there , were no increase this year, the council would face a deficit of about $3300. Smoke cause Dense black smoke from Fletcher's building-in Mandeville Street on May 27 had been caused by the attempted burning of wood shavings, the committee heard. The smoke had resulted in a complaint to the council, said its health inspector, Mr W. Heney.

The council wrote to Fletcher's to establish the cause of the smoke. The company replied that the smoke had resulted from an “abnormal situation,” which was unlikely to happen again. It was considering improvements to the plant on the site, including a new heat-generating system which was expected to be. nearly smokeless.