Councils want more from petrol revenue

Press, 14 August 1984, Page 9

Councils want more from petrol revenue

The Christchurch City Council has written to several Ministers asking for an increase in the local authorities share of petrol revenue. The LocaL Authorities (Petroleum Tax) Act, 1970, set the tax at 0.66 c a litre, incorporated in the retail price of petrol. That figure had remained constant, said the letter, sent to the Ministers of Finance, Energy, Local Government, and Labour. When introduced the tax was a “most welcome and effective source of local body finance.” In 1971-72 it represented 33.4 per cent of the council’s general rate levied. In 1983-84 receipts from the petrol tax of $935,000 were only 5.7 per cent of the general rate. In 14 years the tax had dropped from 7 per cent of the retail price of petrol to 0.93 per cent. 4

The council had several times asked for the tax to be increased, the most recent time being 1981. Any increased revenue from the petrol could be used to employ people on temporary Government schemes, many of them on reading work, the letter said. The letter, written at the suggestion of Cr David Close on August 1, asked that the Government consider the request along with the proposed petrol increase. It was tabled at yesterday’s meeting of the council’s policy and finance committee. The price of petrol was increased to 87.5 c a litre on August 6. Surveyors One permanent and one temporary surveyor will be added to the council’s design division.

The deputy general manager (works), Mr Harold Surtees, said the present workload of the division was increasing and more staff were needed to be able to meet the council’s statutory obligations for survey work. One permanent survey assistant, qualified or almost qualified with a New Zealand Certificate in Land Surveying for survey offsetting and reinstatement work, and a temporary surveyor for land survey work were approved. The. latter position may be renewed after the initial year period if the work demands. Employment A full time junior typist clerk will be employed in the council’s employmentpromotion office. The position had previously been filled by a P.E.P.