Money councils’ worry

Press, 7 April 1979, Page 22

Money councils’ worry

Money, and how to get more of it, remains the central concern of New Zealand cities and boroughs. Most remits to this year’s Municipal Association conference in Dunedin are about money, and ways the Government could direct it into local-body treasuries.

Revenue sharing, through la surcharge on income tax, ! remains the main thrust. But the Government has held out i little hope that it will respond to that plea. A bigger share of the petrol tax is wanted. Its percentage has not been changed since 1970, and it is

not a growing source of funds. Rates on Crown land are wanted to help local government in its search for ways to increase revenue without depending so much on the ordinary ratepayer. A subsidy on the salaries of community workers will be sought by the Wellington delegation, and Christchurch will ask for a further Government subsidy on child care services.

There should be Government financial incentives to encourage rubbish recycling, according to the Onehunga delegation, and Waitemata

wants a special rate rebate for first-time-homeowners.

Christchurch is also ask-1' ing for development bridging, finance wTiich wot Id enable - : private urban renewal: schemes, such as one proposed for the Avert Loop, to; get off the ground

A Hamilton rjnit would be a boon t( property' ctwners suffering under longterm public woks designations. It says that. such designations would lapse, after five years unless rangements to but the land and buildings, or to compensate for future losses, are j completed. I Such compensat.on would be based on ths present market value as f a designation did not exist.