ESTIMATES ADOPTED

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 148, 25 May 1932, Page 6

ESTIMATES ADOPTED

KAIRANGA COUNTY FINANCES. RATE LEVIES DECIDED UPON. Estimates for the year ending March 31, 1933, were considered and adopted by the Kairanga County Council at the annual meeting to-day. Several alterations and adjustments wore made to the draft proposals in order to secure reductions wherever practicable, and every item of expends ture was subjected to the most careful scrutiny. Provision was made in the general account for an expenditure of £3345 18s 7d, subject to minor alterations. Tire amount included £IOO for contingencies and £IOBO for bridge expenditure. License fees from all sources were estimated to produce £396 16s, dog registration £2OO, heavy traffic fees £7OO, and from unused roads and reserves £7O. V ith other receipts this made a total or £1461 16s, which, together with the estimated amounts to be transferred to the debits of riding accounts (on the basis of rateable value) of £IBB4 2s 7d, brings the total to £3345 18s The expenditure to meet the Palmerston North Hospital Board levy, was estimated at £3189 0s lOd, plus a debit balance of £IBB 4s 5d at March 31 last, making the total required £33// 5s 3d. Unpaid county rates at Marclr 31 wore estimated to produce £389 os 7d, leaving £3047 5s 3d to be levied by rate. To provide that sum it was proposed to levy a rate on the basis of 7-25ths of a penny in the £1 (equal to £1 3s 4d per £IOOO valuation) which would produce a sum of £o<J< 18s 9d. It was pointed out that if a 15 per cent, reduction on the hospital rate was made this year this would amount to £570. The reduoed sum required was actually £750, but in view of the possibility of having over estimated the funds available in cash from arrears, and that the basis of rateable value over the whole county on which rate was computed would be considerably reduced owing to a number of re-valuations during the year, it was suggested that only n 15 per cent, reduction bo taken advantage ofThe riding reductions on a lo per cent, basis would be as follow: —Taonui, £286; Mangaone, £170; Fitzherbert, £ll4. TAONUI RIDING.

Receipts from the Taonui riding weie estimated to produce £3598. Towards this total general rates unpaid at March 31, 1932 (£154 9s lOd) were expected to produce £120; Government subsidy on 193L1932 general rates paid to June 30, 1932, £565; transfer from No. 1 motor truck, £2OO, and credit balance at March 31, 1932, £562 9s Gd. The balance required by way of rate levy would bo £2140 11s 2d.

Attention was directed to the fact that the general rate levied last year had been on the basis of 7-20ths of_ a penny in the £1 producing £2370. The amendable rate would mean a 10 per cent, reduction, but it should be borne in mind that the Taonui riding’s share of the expected expenditure on the Fitzherbert Bridge this year would be £4OO. Had this sum not to be provided for, it would have, been possible to reduce the general rates by £630 which is equal to 26.6 per cent. In order to effect a reduction in the general rate by 10 per cent., a transfer of £2OO was necessary from the motor truck reserve account At March 31, T 932, the balance to credit of the motor truck No. 1 account was £1505 4s Bd. The expenditure of £3598 included items of £444, being the riding’s share for the maintenance of the main highways; £1540 for riding roads; £9O for the maintenance of the Foxton and Rangitikei tar-sealed roads; £IOO for contingencies, and £942 as the riding’s share of the general account expenditure.

MANGAONE RIDING. Receipts from the Mangaone riding were estimated to produce £4519. Towards this total, general rates unpaid at March 31. 1932 (£250 8s lOd) were expected to produce £210; Government subsidy on 1931-1932 general rates paid to June 30, 1932, £565; amount transferred from tarred roads maintenance account, £9O; transfer from No. 2 truck account, £SO and credit balance at March 31, 1932, £l4ll 12s 7d. The balance required by way of rate would be £2182 8s Id. It was pointed out that the general rate levied last year had been on the basis of 6-10ths of a penny in the £, producing £2441. The rate required would mean a 10 per cent, reduction, but it should be borne in mind that Mangaone riding’s share of expected expenditure on Eitzherbert Bridge this year was £243, and if this sum had not to be provided for, it would have been possible to reduce general rates by £502, equal to 20 per cent. In order to bring about a 10 per cent, reduction in general rate, it was necessary to transfer £SO from No. 2 truck account. This account had n credit balance of £1346 16s 4<l at March 31, 1932 The expenditure of £4519 included items of £llsO for new works; £3(O for the riding’s share for the maintenance of main highways; £I7BO for the maintenance of riding roads; £lO6 * or Boundary Road (half share); £IOO for tools and the hire of teams in connection with the relief of unemployment ; £9O for the maintenance of tarred roads;- contingencies £100; and £o/2 as the riding’s share of the general account expenditure. EITZHERBERT RIDING. Receipts from the Eitzherbert riding were estimated t<> produce £3915 17s lOd. Towards this total, general rates unpaid at March 31, 1932 (£454 11s 8d) were expected to produce £4OO, Government subsidy on 1931-1932 general rates £580; transfer from plant depreciation account, £280; and transfer from No. 4 motor truck account, £l5O. The balance required by way of rate levy would bo £2449 17s lOd. Attention was directed to the fact that the general rate levied last year had been on the basis of one penny in the £l, producing £2718. The amended rate was 10 per cent, less than last year. This reduction was made possible by the transfer of £l5O from the motor truck account reserve, and £2BO from the plant depreciation account. The expenditure of £3915 17s lOd included items of £033 for the maintenance/of the Palmerston Nortli-Levin highway; £1490 for the maintenance of riding roads, £75 for bridges; £25 for plant; £llO for tools, etc., in connection with unemployment relief; £l2O for metal contracts; £399 18s lOd for sundry' • expenses; £IOO for contingencies: £370 2s 7d as the riding’s share of the general account expenditure and debit balance as at March 31, £502 16s sd;