STRATFORD COUNTY RATES

Taranaki Daily News, 25 July 1929, Page 12

STRATFORD COUNTY RATES

THIS YEAR’S REDACTION. HOW RIDING’S ARE AFFECTED. An imperfect idea of the meaning of the rates struck at Saturday's meeting of the Stratford County Council is obtained from the bare statement that a rate of so much in the fl is to be levied on the various ridings according to the condition of individual riding accounts. More especially as the new county valuation comes into operation for the first time. Because a rate has increased slightly, it does not follow that more revenue is being collected, or that ratepayers will receive an unpleasant shock upon receipt of their demand notices. As a matter of fact the finances of the county are in a - healthy state, particularly, now that the antecedent liability has been removed. Misunderstanding has arisen in the minds of some ratepayers since the publication of the new rate, and the following particulars of the rate, interpreted in terms of actual revenue, should clarify the position.

LESS REVENUE TO BE COLLECTED.

In the north riding the original rate, based on a valuation of £545, C00, was 2d in the £l, and produced £4541. This year the rate will be 1 7-8 d on the new valuation of only £460,000 and is estimated to produce £3594. Thus £947 less than last year will be collected. The south riding had an original rate of I 5-8 d in the £1 on the valuation of £424,000. That rate produced- £2871. The rate has been increased to 2d in the £l, but the valuation is now only £367,000 and the revenue expected £3058, is but £lB7 over the whole riding more than last year. Although the rate (2d in the- £1) remains the same, less revenue will be drawn from the east riding. Tho valuation has been reduced from £486,000 to £400,000 and the sum of £3333 will be collected, as against £4050 last year, £717 less than last year.

‘An increase of 1-Sd has been made in the rate over the west riding, the original rate having been 1 5-Bd. On the other hand, the valuation has been reduced from £451,000 to £390,000 aud £2844 will be collected compared with £3122 last year, a reduction over the riding of £278. A jump from 3d to s<l in the £1 would seem to indicate an increase in Che amount to be contributed in rates aver the Mangaehu riding, but as the valuation has. fallen from £130,000 to £BO,OOO, the county will collect practically the same amount as in the past, £1666 against £1625. The Ngatimaru riding is valued at £14,922 on which a rate of Is Id in the £1 will produce £BO9. This is the first year this district has been included in the Stratford county’s rating area.

The revenue derived from the five ridings last year (excluding Ngatimaru) amounted to £16,209, and the new revenue will be £14,49-5. Thus the sum of £1714 less will be collected in rates this year. The old valuation of the county (five ridings) was £2,036,000, and the new valuation is £1,697,000.