ESTIMATES OF RATES

Taranaki Daily News, 15 June 1927, Page 5

ESTIMATES OF RATES

- POSITION IN EGMONT COUNTY. THE NEED FOR ECONOMY. The Egmont County Council, at its meeting yesterday, discussed the important question of the rate to be struck for the ensuing year. Members were unanimously of opinion that it was necessary, in view of the present financial stringency, to keep the rates as low as possible, consistent with maintaining the reads. The council accordingly, after discussion, decided to levy the same rate as last year in the Oeo, Opua and Newall ridings, but to increase the Rahotu rate by a farthing, which will give that riding an additional £413 Estimates submitted by the clerk (Mr. G. W. Rogers) showed that the estimated expenditure for the ensuing year was £18,005 3s Id, made up of administration £lO4O, miscellaneous £9ll, main highways £4675, revision of valuation roll £25, interest on special loans £6464 4s lOd, sinking fund £695 ss, repayment of debentures (antecedent liability loan and bridge loan) £944 13s 3d. This had been allocated among ths ridings on a valuation basis as follows: Oeo £5688, Opua £4418, Rahotu £4451 and Newall £3448. The estimated liabilities of the respective ridings were as follow:Oeo.—Debit at March 31, £166 2s 6d; proportion general expenditure, £5688; special rates, £142; estimates for by-roads, £500; less proportion of Government subsidy, £363; and rates outstanding £617 0s lOd, leaving £5416 12s 4d required. Opua.—Debit at March 31, £1709 18s; proportion general expenditure, £4418; estimates by-roads, £1260; less proportion of Government subsidy, £232; and rates outstanding £821; leaving £6334 18a required. Rahotu.-—Debit at March 31, £662 Ils Id; proportion of general expenditure, £4451; refund road reconstruction loan account, £lO9 10s 4d; estimates for by-roads, £1240; less proportion Government subsidy, £245; and outstanding rates £652; leaving £5566 Is 5d required. Newall Riding.—Debit balance, £1472 Is 3d; proportion general expenditure, £3448; estimates for by-roads, £640; less proportion Government subsidy, £202; and outstanding rates, £517; leaving £4841 Is 3d required. The clerk pointed out that on the total capital value of the county (£1,604,728) it required a rate of 1 4- to meet the annual charges on sinking fund and interest. A little of this, the antecedent liability ( £825) would not be recurring. Cr. Tosland stressed the necessity of keeping the rate down as low as possible, remarking that they would not be able to undertake any heavy expenditure in this riding, such, for instance, as the Skeet Road. After discussion it was decided to give notice of intention to strike a rate as follows: Oeo Riding, 2 l-8d; Opua Riding, 25-8 d; Rahotu Riding, 2Jd; Newall Riding, 2 5-Bd. There would be an additional 3-8 d hospital rate over the whole county. Last year the rate was: Oeo, 2 l-8d; Opua, 2 5- Rahotu, 2}<l; Newall, 2 5-Bd, with the additional 3-8 d hospital rate in each case.

The council held a lengthy discussion on ways and means of reducing expenses, and it was decided to leave the matter of the disposal of the two big motor-lorries to the chairman and engineer.