Akaroa town rates up; no county rise

Press, 28 May 1983, Page 6

Akaroa town rates up; no county rise

Akaroa county rates will not rise this year but those in the township area will increase 6.65 per cent.

A credit balance of $146,606 and savings made from the Government’s wage and price freeze helped keep down the costs passed on to ratepayers, said the county chairman, Mr T. J. Brocherie. At its meeting yesterday, the council voted for an expenditure in the 1983-84 financial year of $1.9 million, $460,000 more than last year.

Mr Brocherie said the “modest increase” in the Akaroa township rate followed a low rise (9.95 per cent) last year. Some proposals had been shelved in an effort to keep the rate rise down, but last year’s level of spending

would still be exceeded by about $160,000. Rates totalling $233,142 are expected to be collected from the township. In the county, the rate take will be $503,639. Other council income will come from subsidies, grants, rents, and wharf charges. Petroleum tax will net the council $17,000.

The healthy financial situation will enable the council to increase its flood damage contingency from $20,000 to $40,000; to begin an office equipment account, with the possibility of buying a computer, and to lessen its need for overdraft facilities.

More forward planning would be done for the buying of new plant, Mr Brocherie said. Nearly $150,000 will be spent in administration.

General and fixed charges that the council must meet, including rates and levies collected for ad hoc bodies, total more than $160,000 in the county area and about $13,000 in the township. The county reading budget has got a boost from a $90,000 increase in National Roads Board subsidised work and a rise of $27,000 in unsubsidised projects. Work worth a total of $l.l million is planned with subsidies meeting $550,655. In the township road work totalling $137,490 is planned with subsidies and grants supplying $69,400. Traffic flow on the steep hill climb between Little River and Barrys Bay will be eased by the building of two passing bays, one on either side of the hill. The bays will cost $10,600.