ST. KILDA RATES

Evening Star, Issue 23907, 10 June 1941, Page 3

ST. KILDA RATES

TOTAL LEVY UNCHANGED SCHEDULE OF WORKS FOR YEAR “It is mv desire that this council continue in the same progressive manner as in the last six years, and } will give mv support to this end, said the mayor "(Mr N. D. Anderson), speaking at last night’s meeting of the St. Ivilda Council, prior to discussion on the ri *tes and estimates for the ensuing 12 months. „ ~, Those present wore Crs G. Glue, W. J. Lovell, T. B. 1). Roy, J. C. Chcrrv, J. H. Hinton, H. H. Johnson, A. H. Minnie, E. Lougworth. and R. S. Brent. It had. the Mayor said, been hoped to reduce the general rate this year, but times were so uncertain and perilous that a reduction had not been considered possible. The council would need to watch its work for the current year, but it was fortunate in that the majority of the streets were now sealed, and most of the work which was to be done from time to time was of a maintenance nature. Jt had been hoped that the borough would bo debt-free by 1953, but some of its sources of income were being reduced. The impressment of vehicles by the Army Department would alfect heavy traffic license fees, and, due to petrol rationing, the allocation from the petrol tax was likely tS be heavily reduced. In view of these facts, the council would need to give thought to any work upon which it entered.

The council had also agreed to contribute £534 towards the Emergency Eire Protection, and there would! probably be further demands in the near future for additional amounts. 1 lie Mayor added that some improvements would have to be made to the council buildings, although the complete overhaul necessary could not be carried out. GENERAL RATE INCREASED. As a result of the rates agreed upon, the total payable will be exactly the same as last year, although there are slight changes in some of the individual amounts. There is a decrease in the drainage and hospital rates, but an increase in the general rate of ,37d. The following rates, which will return £23,497, were approved : —General, 3.66 d; special, 3.13 d; water, ,75d; hospital, 1.69 d; drainage, 3.81 d. Last year the general rate was 3.29 d, hospital 1.94 d, and drainage 3.96 d. Special and water rates are unchanged. REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE. Principal sources of revenue and the amounts estimated are;—Rates (excluding .hospital and drainage), £14,623; licenses and traffic fees, £1,100; water through meter and sundry water charges, £400; petrol tax, £1,200; surplus from last year, £1,500. The total estimated revenue is £10,973. Expenditure is estimated at £20,230; principal payments being—street maintenance, £6,355; water from city, maintenance, and interest on mains, £3,906 ; interest on conversion loan, £2,730; sinking fund conversion loan, £2,380; lighting, £650; fire protection, £854; fire protection under emergency precautions scheme, £534; sanitary and traffic inspections, £325; salaries, etc., £926; office expenses, £665; Ocean Beach Domain Board, £200; grants, £l6O. The biggest undertaking in street maintenance is the penetration of Bird and Dalgety streets at an estimated cost of £641 in each instance. Tack carpeting of sections of Alfred, Onslow, Begg, and Scott streets, Royal Crescent, and Ings Avenue will absorb £1,153 7s, while attention to the flanks of portion of Royal Crescent and Ferguson street will call for £222 15s; kerbing, channelling, and the formation and sealing of footpaths in Ferguson, Market, Jackson, and Douglas streets, Forbury Crescent, and Victoria road are estimated at £345; wages under this schedule are estimated at £2,100. The rates and estimates were approved. GENERAL. It was decided to increase the mayor’s honorarium to £75. The inspector (Mr F. T. de Largey) reported that during the four weeks ended June 7 he had issued 615 drivers’ licenses and 14 heavy traffic licenses. Accounts amounting to £1,073 8s 7d were passed for payment. Receipts were advised at £778 16s lid, the bank balance standing at credit £3,177 6s 2d. Water consumption for the past four weeks was reported to be 6,055,000 gallons, at a cost of £239 13s 7d. ’ In the fortnight previous the cost was £lO6 Bs.