LOWERING RATES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21561, 4 August 1933, Page 10

LOWERING RATES

DECISION AT OPOTIKI REDUCTION IN EXPENDITURE [by telegraph OWN correspondent] OPOTIKI, Thursday The Opotiki Borough Council has decided to strike a rate of 4sd for the current year, based on the unimproved value. Of this amount, 4d is for standing charges for interest on different loans, while the 3d is a general rate for general purposes. • The total rate struck is a reduction of ljd on last year's rate, and it is believed that it will probably show Opotiki to be/the lowest rated borough in the Dominion. Four years ago the total rate levied was lOd.. It is understood that these figures are levied on estimates providing for suggested cuts in expenditure. POSITION AT KOTORUA THE LOSS OF BATH FEES [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] ROTORUA, Thursday Considerable discussion took place at a meeting of the Rotorua Borough Council last evening in connection with the Finance Committee's recommendation for the rates to be lovied for the current year. A consolidated rate of 1.4] 4d in the pound on the capital value was proposed and in addition certain annual fees.

Mr. 0. H. Coleman, chairman of the • Finance Committee, said the actual reduction was SJ per cent, but owing to an increase of 2 per cent in the publicity and amusement rate and an increase of 1J per cent in the fire-pre-vention rate, the net reduction was 5 per cent. Mr. IC. Johnson suggested that the recommendation be referred back to see what further reduction could be made in the rates. The position of Itotorua property-owners at present was very hard and the valuations were the highest in Now Zealand. Sir. Coleman said the committee had gone very fully and carefully into the matter and it was rather late in the day to try to effect any further reductions. They had effected a saving of nearly £BOO and also had- to contend with the loss of bath fees amounting to £9OO.

Tho Mayor, Mr. T. Jackson, said it was futile to pass any resolution, as had been suggested. He saw no useful purpose served by referring the recommendation back. So much of the expenditure was for fixed charges that he could not see how to get a further reduction than 5 per cont. The council was faced with tho loss of tho £9OO bath fees. Members could realise the magnitude of the economies that had been effected. If they had retained this subsidy they could have effected a saving of 15 per cent in the rates. Finally it decided to adopt the recommendation of the Finance Committee.