THIS YEAR’S RATES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 97, 27 April 1939, Page 8

THIS YEAR’S RATES

NO REDUCTION LIKELY LEVY WILL PROBABLY BE THE SAME LOAN FOR SEALING FOOTPATHS MOOTED “I should like to have been able to forecast a reduction in the rate levy required for this year, but this would not be be possible without heavy curtailment of the maintenance of existing services and the steady development of much-needed work, in the matter of very necessary sealing of a large mileage of uncompleted footpaths and streets, many of which are in the older part of the city,” the Mayor said last night when presenting his report. “Whilst I fell that we are all generally agreed in this council that there should be no material increase in our rate levy over that of last year, I trust that the council will agree to give the ratepayers, and those entitled to vote, to decide on loan proposals, whether or not they desire the present rate of progress in tar-sealing to be speeded up or to continue the much slower method of oni> a comparatively small mileage of taisealing each year out of available revenue.” Mr. C. N. Armstrong said that he, too, was desrious of keeping the levy to the same as last year, but he hcici been given to understand that the Harbour Board’s total levy this year would be more than last. The council decided to discuss Inc rate levy at a special meeting a fortnight hence and a committee already in existence is to explore the possibilities of a loan for tar-sealing or footpaths at a greater rate than ai present. THE RATING ACCOUNT BIG PROPORTION COLLECTED COMPARISONS WITH LAST YEAR’S During the financial year ended on March 31 last, 91.04 per cent, of the rates levied by the Wanganui City Council were collected. “The rate levy for the year was slightly in excess of that for the previous year,” stated the town clerk (Mr G. Murch), in his annual report, ‘ but when taken in conjunction with the levy on behalf of the Wanganui Harbour Board (which was lower), the aggregate rate in the £ remained the same. The total city rate levied was £110,692, being an increase of £1,672 over the amount for the previous year. “Details of the rate in the £ levied for the past four years, are as under. 19.38-39, 12.977 d; 1937-38. 12.724 d; 1936- 10.809 d; 1935-36, 9.812 d; plus a water rate of 3d in the £ (Ud in the £ in cases other than dwelling houses and lands supplied with water). “It is interesting to compare the amount of the city rate levied over the last few years, and although last year’s levy is considerably less than that for the years 1928-29 to 1930-31, a gradual increase during the past four vears is shown: 1928-29, £121,195; 1929-30, £119.547; 1930-31, £113.717; .1931-32, £107,517; 1932-33. £107,401; 1933-34, £96,735; 1934-35, £90,711, 1935-36, £88.(341; 1936-37, £95,329; 1937- £109,020; 1938-38, £110,692. Rate Collection. The percentage of rates collected continues to improve, being 91.04 per cent, of the total levy of £110,692, as compared with 90.2 per cent and 87.7 per cent for the two previous years respectively. The collection of arrears of rates also was greater than that foi the last corresponding period, being £8699 as against £BOlO. “The unpaid rates in respect of laM year’s levy amount to £9681, the total outstanding for all past years being £24,210 as compared with £25,703 at March 31, 1938.” Comment By The Mayor. “The important work of framing the estimates of receipts and expenditure, and of determining the rate levy for the year, was given earnest and immediate consideration,” reported the Mayor (Mr. W. J. Rogers) in his review of the past year. “After a careful examination of the figures presented by the responsible officers of the departments, the council’s deliberations resulted in the estimates being adopted so as to require the levy of the same rate in the £5 as that of last year, including that levied on behalf of the Wanganui Harbour Board. As the latter’s rate was reduced by .253 d in the £, that of the city was correspondingly increased, representing an additional expenditure levy of £1672 for city purposes.” VALUE OF SUBSIDISED LABOUR FOUR IMPORTANT WORKS GOVERNMENT’S NO. 13 SCHEME “The council has been aided to a considerable extent during the year by the Government’s scheme of supplying labour, either at full-time rates of pay or with subsidy, and for this valuable assistance the council is grateful,” reports the Mayor. “This lias enabled many useful works to beundertaken that would otherwise have had to be deferred until the future. The most important works completed or at present being carried out under the scheme are; — Entrance steps and terracing in Cook’s Gardens. Tunnelling for alteration in line of water mains—Okehu. Concrete blocks for suburban footpaths. Development of Virginia Lake and other city reserves. “Notwithstanding the Government’s intention to terminate scheme No. 13, tentative arrangements have been made to enable most of those engaged on the works referred to above to continue, and it has been agreed that a deputation should wait on the Minister at an early date to ascertain what financial assistance can be given to the council in the matter of providing loan money for works of a permanent nature that it might decide to carry out.”