ST. KILDA RATES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23809, 16 May 1939, Page 7

ST. KILDA RATES

PRESENT LEVEL UNCHANGED ESTIMATES FOR COMING YEAR “A SATISFACTORY POSITION” “ The finances of the St, Kilda Borough are in a very satisfactory state,” said the Mayor (Mr J. J. Marlow) at last night’s meeting of the council. “ and I am pleased to announce that, notwithstanding rising costs and the increase of 58 per cent, in the cost of water to the borough, we have been able to keep die rates the same as last year. “ The Special Committee has gone into the whole question very carefully and has made its recommendations only after careful consideration There is still a lot of work to he done, but the council is continuing its policy of bringing all the streets up to tar-sealed standard by doing a few each year It is imnossible to bring out a report to olease everybody, but the committee has given the matter full consideration and its works proposals are as far as they can go without increasing the rates.” Borough’s Sound Position “ The affairs of the St. Kilda Borough are highly satisfactory,” Mr Marlow said. “ The borough has a loan indebtedness of £83,000 worked on a consolidated basis, and this total has gradually been reduced until it now stands at £71,000. In about 15 years it will be necessary to levy the special rate of 3.13 d, for in 1955 the borough will be free of public debt We get the first benefit next year,” he added, “ for in October. 1940, the loan on the Town Hal] will be wiped off ” Mr Marlow also mentioned that the question of carrying out repairs to the Town Hall would be gone into and the work would be done out of rent revenue. He also briefly explained the fee of £1 on apartment houses. Committee’s Report The Mayor then moved the adoption of the Special Committee’s recommendations. which were as follows; That the council make and levy the following rates and fees for the current year:—A general rate of 3.29 d; a special rate of 3.13 d: a water rate of .75d; a Hospital rate of 1.94 d; a drainage rate of 3.96 d. That the charges for the sanitary rate as provided for in the by-law in respect to water supply be also levied. That the estimates of receipts and payments for the year ending on March 31, 1940, be approved. That a fee of £ 1 be levied for the removal of refuse in case of a building that is an apartment house or contains separate apartments let as flats, pursuant to section 7 of the Municipal Corporations Amendment Act. 1938. Estimates for Year The estimated receipts under the General Account for the year ended on March 31, 1940, totalled £9930, the principal item being rates and arrears of rates amounting to £5450. The chief payment was the foreman’s schedule of £5656, Flanks of streets would be sealed in Dougles street. Council street. Jackson street. Market street. Gourley street, and Kennedy street. Kerbing and channelling would be carried out in Victoria road. Ferguson street, and Anderson’s Bay road, and footpath sealing would be completed in Royal crescent, Forbury road, Ferguson street, and Quarry street. Street sealing would be carried out in Plunket and Grey streets and in Royal crescent, and tack carpeting would be done on the overhead relief in Gourley and Bridgman streets and in Bridgman. Calder. Young, and Mill? streets. Cr E. Longworth. seconding the adoption of the report, said that some of the work could have been done, but it would not be a hardship to anyone to carry it over for another year. Kerbing and channelling in the borough had been almost completed, and two blocks near the ouarrv would now be given attention. Crs T. B. D. Roy and W. Rutherford congratulated the committee on the renort, which was adopted without discussion.