INGLEWOOD COUNTY FINANCE

Taranaki Daily News, 8 June 1932, Page 16

INGLEWOOD COUNTY FINANCE

COUNCIL CONSIDERS ESTIMATES.

alteration IN rates proposed

The estimates for the year 1932-33 were considered yesterday by the Inglewood County Council together with the riding finances and the rates proposed to be struck to secure the required revenue. At the end of last year only one riding, the west, had a credit balance, £3OB. The north riding funds were overspent by £925, the south by £25 and the east by £315. The clerk (Mr. H. W. Martin) stated that those debits were not all incurred last year, but had accumulated over a period of years. Last year a flat rate of 3d had been struck over all ridings, but that was not the correct method of striking the rates. The finances of each riding should be considered individually, and iu his statements and estimates he had calculated requirements and rates on that basis. To all the riding rates would have to be added 5-8 d for the hospital rate. The proportion of general expenses payable by each riding and the amount of rate required for all purposes were outlined by the clerk, who had based his figures on the assumption that the debit balances would be cleared.. Councillors considered .that to impose rates sufficient to achieve that end would impose a too severe burden upon the ratepayers in qne year and revised them accordingly. As the north riding had the largest debit a rate to clear off £3OO of it was fixed and at the same time it was decided to reduce maintenance costs by £l9O. The east riding was similarly dealt with in comparison. The council therefore proposed to strike the following rates which would be subject to the addition of the hospital rate of 5-8 d: North 3d (3d last year), south 2jd (3d), east 3 7-16 d (3d), west 2Jd (3d). The estimates for 1932-33 were:— Receipts: Credit balance April 1, 1932 (west riding), £308;. rate arrears (general only), £700; general revenue, £9799; subsidy on rates, £920; total, £11,727. General rates: North riding £2619, South riding £2337, East riding £933, West riding £2255—£8194; balance (rates short), £27; total, £19,948. Payments: Administration, travelling, etc., £1723; elections, £52; unauthorised expenditure, £5O; interest on overdraft, £400; miscellaneous, £292; plant repairs, £700; new plant, £380; building repairs, £104; new buildings, £2O; stores and pipes, £1020; interest and principal charges, £3381; main county roads, £105; main highways, £6206; reserves for contingencies, £5OO. Riding payments for roads: North £916, South £lOBB, East £451, West £1295; riding accounts overspent at April 1 (North, South and East), £1265; total, £19,94-8.