CITY OF AUCKLAND

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22908, 16 June 1936, Page 10

CITY OF AUCKLAND

BUDGETING FOR DEFICIT EXPENDITURE RIGIDLY PRUNED (Per United Press Association) AUCKLAND, June 15. Rates totalling 3s Hid, an increase of a halfpenny on last year, wer. approved by the City Council when the annual estimates were submitted to-night bv .the Mayor (Mr Ernest Davis). The increase is due wholly to the higher levy imposed on the city by the Auckland Hospital Board. A deficit of £71,880 at March 31, 1937, was budgeted for, to offset which there are outstanding rates, most of which are believed to be collectable, amounting to £157,001. Last year ended with u deficit of £05,209, the year's opening debit being £33.999. The council's overdraft at March 31 of £79,254 was stated to be the largest for many years. Requests by the departments for appropriations were pruned so severely that in the words of the Mayor they have been given definite allocations of money rather than estimated sums to spend. The council issued instructions that the allocations were not to be exceeded, nor were the savings to be expended elsewhere.