Paparua fights levy rise

Press, 8 March 1988, Page 7

Paparua fights levy rise

Paparua > ratepayers "will Igo crook"! if they have to pay| an increased urban) transport levy, said a Paparua County council- I lor lapt evening. [j Cr j\rthur Jennings said it was "ab out time the council stool upland said ‘no’ th something.” He [was referring to the prospect of Paparua ratepayers beint asked by the Canterbury [United Council to pay an increased urban transport! levy because of a reduced Government suosidy. The Cou oty Chairman, Mr Jack Fethig, said he would be attending an urgent United Council re-, giondl transport committee [meeting today. The United Council would have to adjust [its urban transport levies after news that.the Government' ! subsidy wobld be about $1 i million less ‘than ex- [ pected, he said;. i. Cr Jim Taker said that if triere was a shortfall it shoqld be net by the user of buses not )i by local bodies and their rate-

payers. Cr Ed Britnell said, “If the Government has cut its subsidy, why can't we say we will limit j our contribution too?” > | i The council asked Mr Pethig to advise [ the United Council that it believed the shortfall in urban ’ transport levies should le recovered from bus fares, not rates. Promotion The South Island Promotion Association will not get any money from the council this year. I The ■ Council decided last evening to stop! its contribution )to [ [the association and to ■ withdraw its representative,Cr Arthur Jennings.' [ The council’s . money would be better spent with the Canterbury Promotion Council, said Cr Jennirgs. i 1 | I “We won’t have to withdraw from the association, we’ll be kicked off," said Mr Pethig. [ ;