BOROUGH FINANCES.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVII, Issue 145, 21 June 1913, Page 8

BOROUGH FINANCES.

THE NEW RATES.

The rates for the year ending with March 31st, 1914, were fixed' at.the meeting of the Borough Council last nigM' GENERAL RATE. It was resolved to give notice of intention to levy a general rate of 3d in the £ on tho unimproved ratable value of £318,772, this being estimated to produce £3980. This rate was based on the- follow-, ing estimates: — ESTIMATED RECEIPTS.' £ Rate (arrears) ... 120 Licenses ... Jxl- ■ Dogs, ... - JOS : Subsidy :.. 250 Licensing ,*^ , Co-operative Drain ••■ 65; Sundries 140: Rates • 3yBU . . ■ • , £5380 ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE. £ Administration 800! Fire Prevention 250 \ Licensing 40 : M.C. Act ••• 50 | Lighting 3t>o ; Interest ltJ> Baths 50 Contingencies ... .^ou New Lamps ••• I°° Works 2300 Works Contingencies ... 500 2800 Beautifying Society 250 Unallotted 175 Weighbridge , 90 £5380

& SPECIAL RATES

A series o"f resolutions provided for the following special rates required for interest and sinking funds on various loans:—£4soo loan, 9-64 d, esianiatecl to produce £186 15s (2-64 d extra to pay last year's sinking fund); £20,800 gas and other repayments loan, 7-32 d, £290 10s (2-64 d less)^ £750 Wairau bridge loan, lr-64d, £20 15s (2-64 d less owing to credit balance) ; £4000 Town Hall loan, 3-16 d, £249 (8-64 d more, owing to improvements necessary and tihe fact that the Hall had ceased to be self-support-ing); £1600 loan (Town Hall £1000 and Nelson Street bridge £600), 5-64 d, £103 5s (3-64 d more owing to improvement of hall); £1900 Wairau bridge loan, 5-64 d, £103 15s 5d (new rate); £500, part of water supply and' drainage £65,000 loan,. l-32d, £41 10s (new The total of'the special rates is fd. Last year's general and special ■rates totalled 3£d; this year they amount to 3|d: ,;

HOSPITAL RATE.

The Council also resolyed to notify its intention of levying a rate of 3|d in the £ on the annual ratable value to meet the -contributions payable to "the Wairau Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, viz: levy for maintenance £338 7s Bd> and part (£257 18s 9d) of the levy of £845 19s 2d for the pro--pos<?d new hospital. The general, special and hospital rates last year (1912-13) in the terms <©f the unimproved value amounted to •3£d in the £. This year they aggregate approximately 4 3-16 din the £. 'Councillor Griffiths, Chairman of the Finance Committee, in moving the various resolutions, which were passed with but slight comment, remarked that the increases; were unavoidable. H© hoped that the Works would shape its programme according to the means of the Council.