Nil rate increase for Ellesmere

Press, 23 May 1989, Page 8

Nil rate increase for Ellesmere

By

ANABRIGHT HAY

A nil rate increase for Ellesmere County and Leeston and Southbridge community council ratepayers was approved at yesterday’s meeting of the County Council. The council has struck a rate of 0.3071 c in the dollar of rateable capital value — the same as the rate struck last financial year. The county treasurer, Mr Clive Wheeler, said revaluation of the county during 1988 would mean quite a variance in rates. Net rateable value of the county had reduced from $417,310,510 to $411,504,550. The council intends to collect $1,263,482, compared with $1,281,553 last

year. The Southbridge and Leeston community councils will collect the same amount in rates as last year. As usual a large portion of County Council expenditure would be used to pay staff salaries, the budget for which had increased 5 per cent on last year’s figure, Mr Wheeler said. Spending increases beyond the council’s control included a 24 per cent increase in the Canterbury United Council levy; a 17 per cent increase in fees payable to the Valuation Department, an increase in Audit Department fees, loss of subsidy payments on noxious plants expenditure, and the transition costs of local government reform.