BOROUGH ESTIMATES

Chronicle (Levin), 17 July 1946, Page 4

BOROUGH ESTIMATES

Financing Tbe Year's Work NO MAJOR WORK PROPOSED - * The estimates for the year ending March 31, 1947, were considered and adopted at a special meeting of the Levin Borough Couneil this week. No large-scale new work has . been provided for out of revenue, but the estimates include £200 for the new women's- conveniences in Bath Street. They also appear to make due allowance" for rises in costs. In the general account the. total expenditure for the year is estimated at £17,693, which is reduced to £17,007 by deducting a credit balance of £686 from last year. Revenue is estimated at £8557, leaving a sum of £8450 to be found from rates. The principal items of estimated expenditure, with the actua.l sum expended during the 1945-46 year in parentheses, are as follows: Street maintenance £3621 (£3761), salaries £1790 (£1341), interest on loans £2118 (£2183), sinking funds £1323 (£1255), gardens and reserves £1070 (£904), holiday and sick pay £600 (£577) and transfer to library account £598 (£379). On the revenue side the main items other than rates are: Rent from Municipal Buildings and other sources £4075 (£3295), Government subsidy on rates £450 (£333), licenses and fees £300 (£291), building permits £300 (£237) and heavy traffic fees £550 (£513). Gas Supply Account In the gas supply account the chief items of the total expenditure of £12,492 are as under, the actual expbnditure during 1945-46 being quoted in parentheses: Coal and carting £3500 (£3477), general working expenses £1250 (£1624), wages £1200 (£1171) and fittings, stoves and services £1000 (£2097). The estimated revenue of £10,350 is made up largely of : Saies of ' gas £7800 (£7791), residuals £1500 (£1509), fittings £500 (£1133) and stoves £500 (£1791). Water Supply Account The water supply account budgets for expenditure totalling £4351, the main items being as follows, with the 1945-46 expenditure in parentheses: Interest and repayment £1683 (£1683), maintenance £900 (£941), purchase of new truck £325 (nil) and services and extensions £600 (£605). On the revenue side rates are estimated to produce £2372 (£1589), supply outside borough £1350 (£1427) and railway engines and public buildings £400 (£307). In regard to the purchase of a new truck, the Mayor (Mr. H. B. Burdekin) commented that it was wrong to have to pay oqt such g large sum in one year. The couneil should have a scheme by which 'small1 annual payments were set aside sufficient to meet replacement when the vehicle was worn out. Library Account The library account envisages an expenditure of £1058, the principal items being: Books £400 (£252 expended last year), salaries £490 (£429) and ■lighting, cleaning and sundries £100 (£90). Revenue is estimated at £1058, made up largely of the transfer from the general account £598 (£379), extra books, reserves, etc., £410 (£407) and subscriptions £50 (£51). Provision has been made for the purchase of additional copies of popular books, thus reducing the time in which readers will have to wait before receiving a book they have reserved. It is proposed to increase the reservation fee from 2d to 3d per book.