More rates than expected

Press, 13 May 1986, Page 4

More rates than expected

The Christchurch City Council received more in rates than expected in the 1985-86 year, in spite of the rates revolt. The council’s budget usually provides for a proportion of outstanding rates, and in the last budget that amount was increased. The $48,139,473 the council received of the $48,635,387 set was more than budgeted. There was a significantly higher level of arrears in 1985-86 than the year before. At the end of the year, $2,468,130 of the total rates struck had not been paid. Since then, $390,000 of that has been collected, according to the City Treasurer, Mr Robert

Lineham. The $2;4 million represented 5 per cent of the rates struck. Of the total rates, $3,417,174 were for Merivale, and $3,641,316 for Mount Pleasant and Sumner. In Merivale, 5 per cent of the rates, or $193,316, was outstanding, and in Mount Pleasant, 6.5 per cent, or $237,037. Together the rate rebels short-changed the council $430,353, 0.8 per cent of the total rates struck.

Mr Lineham reported that most of the rebels who had withheld some payments had now paid up in full, or less the penalties. In Merivale and Mount Pleasant 1091 pro-

perties still owed some rates, but the amounts were small. Reminder letters have gone to all those in arrears. Action for recovery will follow the usual council practice.

Circular letters had been sent to the Mayor of Christchurch by residents objecting to the council’s rate records, under the Rating Act, 1967, section 57.

The act specified certain grounds for objection, Mr Lineham said. These did not include imposing a penalty. The policy and finance committee of the council reaffirmed yesterday that the usual steps be taken to collect outstanding

rates from all ratepayers.

The committee also voted to revoke a 1985 council decision granting an additional 15 per cent remission of rates to 67 sports and school organisations.

It also voted not to grant the usual 50 per cent remission on the uniform general charge to certain properties, but to give a full remission to the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association for Wilding Park, to the Arts Centre for both sites, to the C.S.A. Gallery for the Gloucester Street premises, and to the State Insurance Office for the State Trinity Centre.