RATE DEMANDS

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 49, 27 August 1945, Page 7

RATE DEMANDS

CAUSE OF INCREASES

BOTH CITY AND HOSPITAL

Rate demands for the year are out, and those who receive them are not very pleased, for they are well up. The Hospital Board is getting most of the blame, and by many ratepayers is being given all the blame, but that is not right, for both City Council and Hospital Board money needs are higher .hi" year, though the hospital increase is at a higher percentage The total demand on ratepayers this year is £785,630, compared with £673.255 last year, an increase of £112,375. Of this increase the heavier hospital levy accounts for £47,228, and the rest of the increase is required to pay higher wages and salaries, some special items, and for city maintenance and special works which were so long deferred that they could not be left longer. That is true also ot many local authorities throughout the Dominion, who, even though the end ot the war was not plainly in sight when their estimates were drawn up. decided that maintenance and development could not be held over indefinitely, lest longer delay would increase the ultimate cost of repair and overhauling of accumulation of work, and as more materials and men to do the work can be expected." Every local authority had to add something substantial for the increased wages and salary 'The £65,000 additional for such cky works and needs is made up thus:— Increase in interest and sinking fund payments, £7000; increase in Wellington Fire Board levy, £1000; increase in wages and salaries due to probable award adjustments, £36,300; increase in allocations to votes for essential and urgent works, £14,400; decrease on last (year's credit balance, £6400; total. £65,100. a 41 ~ Amounts allocated to the spending committees and the expenditure last year, are: — Expended. Allocation. 1944-45. '■ £ £ Works committee 214.5100 185,474 Airport 6.200 4.080 Train. 19,500 10,778 Health nnd sanitary ... 9.400 7.742 Cemeteries and crema T torium n.700 7,230 'Reserves 65,51.5 43.183 Libraries 30,759 23,533 Totals £356,054 £288,535 Grants and subsidies add £3000-odd. The hospital levy has this year increased by approximately 39 per cent., and the general city rate by 12. per cent.; taking them together, the increase in the demands is just over 18 per cent. That means an additional 14s 4d for each £100 of unimproved vlue.