Paparua County rate value rises 60 p.c.

Press, 8 December 1987, Page 9

Paparua County rate value rises 60 p.c.

The rateable value of Paparua County had risen nearly 60 per cent in the last year, the Paparua County Council was told last evening. The council’s chairman, Mr Jack Pethig, said in his report that this did not automatically mean rates would be higher next year.

He said that unless a property had been revalued at more than the average rise for its district or ward, rate payments would remain much the same.

The rise would only be by the percentage required by each district under the county programme. Sockburn’s valuations rose 72.80 per cent, Hals-

well’s 55.87 per cent, Hornby's 72.42 per cent, and rural valuations 52.91 per cent. Mr Pethig said that the council levy for urban transport would be $1,017,618, compared with $723,000 at present. The levy from next year would replace Christchurch Transport Board rates, but unlike the board’s rates, it would affect the whole of the county to some extent. Earlier this year the Canterbury United Council resolved the urban transport area boundaries. The whole of Paparua county was classified as an “inner council.” This meant that the council’s levy would be assessed at the same rate

as those of Christchurch, Waimairi, Riccarton, and Heathcote. Cr W. J. Baker said that the forcing of the rate on to rural people in the county would result in a backlash. The council had decided the levy would be 10 per cent from the whole area’s ratepayers, and 90 per cent paid by the urban and urban and rural sector combined. He accepted that it was difficult to dissect the rural areas in the county. “Now we’ll just have to wait for the repercussions,” he said. Mr Pethig said that he did not see how the council could lighten the load any further for the rural areas.