NO RISE IN COUNTY COUNCIL RATES

Putaruru Press, Volume XXI, Issue 1231, 22 May 1947, Page 1

NO RISE IN COUNTY COUNCIL RATES

WARNING TG FARMERS

RATES FOR ROADS Rising Costs Mean Less Work Unless Revenue Is Increased Although a warning note was sounded by Cr. E. D. White (chairman), Cr. A. Wallace and other members, that while farmers accepted an increased price for produce, many objected to an increase in rates which was inevitable if satisfactory road work was to be accomplished' in a period of high costs, the Matamata County Council unanimously decided at the May meeting not to increase the nates for the coming year. The chairman emphasised that during the coming year balances which had l accumulated during the war years would be almost exhausted and that additional money would have to he found later if the roads were to be kept up to a satisfactory standard. Cr. Wallace stressed that in accepting higher payments for increased cost® farmers themselves must appreciate that they must also be ready to pay more for necessary work on the roads. Treasurer’s Report Reporting on the finances, Mr. J. A. Beck (treasurer) stated: — General Account Receipts for the past year (excluding rates and subsidy) were £2838, the estimates providing for £6250. During the year an objection by a local authority to the previous system of allocating heavy traffic license fees has held up the distribution of the fees, and making necessary the transfer of £2288 from the general account to the heavy traffic fees separate account, which now contains l a balance of £7589. For 1947-48 it is estimated the general account receipts from the above sources will be £9400, including expected revenue from distribution of heavy traffic fees of £7OOO.

Expenditure oh “non-works” items was £Bll7, compared with the estimate of £7830. Itncluded is i(he maintenance of buildings, etc., from which was paid the cost of the two “transit” cottages at Tirau. The estimates for last year provided £31,400 (including holiday pay) for road works, the actual expenditure being £23,104. For 194748 the estimate of £36,000 is dealt with in mere detail by the engineer in his report. The sum of £2533 spent on; housing additions has aided the council in solving a small portion of its housing difficulties. Provision of £4OOO anticipated that the council’s policy in this direction will continue. It is estimated that this programme can be attempted " with a rate of 1 3-Bd, thus allowing a diversion of 9.64 d from an amalgamated 'rate of 2Dd to increase the hospital separate rate. The council will note, however, that cash reserves will all be used. Separate Rates The Waikato Hospital Board’s levy is expected to he in the vicinity of £10,560. In 1946-47 the levy of £12,708 resulted in a credit balance in the hospital rate account of £3023, on April 1, 1946, lapsing into a debit balance of £725 at the commencement of this year. A rate of 9-16 d in the £ will reduce this deficit to £2Bl as at March 3il next, on the basis l of a rate collection of 95 per cent. The Tirau water supply separate account suffered a financial loss on, last year’s working, through the purchase of fire-fighting equipment, and commences this year with a further deficit of £lB2. The total debt on the undertaking is now £2653. No change in the separate rates and charges is recommended. Special Rates No alteration from last year’s levies is recommended. If the full works programme for the year is to be carried out provision must he made for the raising of additional moneys but means of an increase in rates and/or the raising of a highways loan for the

council’s share of the reconstruction of No. 802 (Matamalta-Tauranga) main highway. Engineer’s Notes Mr. M. E. Fitzgerald (engineer) added the following notes:— The opportunity to grapple effectively with the serious shortcomings in .both road maintenance and development which have been inescapable during the past five or more years has at last presented itself.

From the tabulation of estimates, already in the hand® of councillors, it will be seen that if estimated main highway maintenance costing £19,988, including , considerable lengths of re-sealing, is fully spent, the council’s share will be £4956. It would perhaps he reasonably safe to write this figure down to £3OOO, leaving the balance to overlap into the following financial year.

The total codt of construction items for roads and bridges is estimated at £98,580, of which the council’s share will be £10,319 in respect of main highways and £15,136 on jobs' subject to Public Works Departmen financial aid. Works in this list which are already underway or on the point of being commenced include Mangapapa bridge (447 highway, Richmond Downs), 51 miles of new bitumen road and two concrete, bridges on 802 highway (Matamalta-Omahine), completion of sealing at Lichfield and 1 Pokai on 809 highway, Oraka bridge at Okoroire, and improvements to Orepunga road, and it now seems likely that provision for £14,000 (in addition to "loan moneys available for Oraka bridge) will see the council through until March 31.

Last year’s estimate® for maintenance of second and l third-class roads were, respectively, £6500 and £12,500. These items were underspent by about £3OO and £2OOO, respectively. More could very well have been spent profitably. However, the construction works under way and in contemplation should tend to relieve this department and provision of similar amounts to last year is recommended. General Discussion In comment Mr. Beck stated that so far as he could see the hospital rate would always have to 'be above the stabilised rate of id as the Hospital Board levied on all rateable property, including native. Or. A. Wallace asked how the council had managed without increasing rates. The chairman replied that they had been eating up reserves. Both speakers then made the comment reported at the head of this article. Referring to the plant account, Mr Beck stated that there was a balance of £6OOO in the account, and plant on order amounted to £BOOO. The council could congratulate itself on “taking the Audit Department'sl annual tag” and building up reserves in this account.

The chairman further' explained that during the war no plant had been obtainable and 1 the plant reserve had' accumulated. Now the plant was coming to hand they were in the rosy position of having new plant for road works, 'Which l plant would last a good few years, and in that time the reserve account would have a chance , to build up again. However, with the receipt of higher prices for their produce, farnners could not expect their rates (to remain statis while costs were going up. The council should also impress upon the powers that be that more revenue must come from somewhere, and one source was that the traffic using the roads should hear more.

The treasurer instanced the fact that the State road services were not paying their due share to the cost of the roads. On the motion of Crs. Pohlen and Wallace the estimates were approved, leaving the amalgamated rate at 2td in the £—-as last year.