RATES TO BE INCREASED

Chronicle (Levin), 18 May 1948, Page 2

RATES TO BE INCREASED

Otaki Borough Decides On Year's Levies An increase of 5-8d in the £1 on all rateable property in the Otaki Borough will be necessary for the financial year ending March 31, 1949. This was agreed-- on at the May meeting of the council, when the estimates of income .and expenditure for the year were formulated. Among the work provided for is the bitumen sealing in those streets where tar sealing has been carried out, thus providing a permanent surface, and the provision of flood stop. gates to which the council has already agreed. The total rate will be ls 6d in the £1, as compared with ls 5 3-8d last year. The various separate rates which go to make up this amount are as follows, the corresponding figure for last year being given in parentheses in each case: — General rate, 8jd (7 5-8d) ; hospital levy, 2 3-8d (2 3-8d) ; street lighting rate, ll/lfcd (5-8d) ; library -rate, 5-8d (5-8d) ; Manawatu Catchment Board rate, 5-16d (3-8d) ; sewerage redemption loan rate, l|d (13d); conversion loan rates, 4d. (4d). A uniform annual sanitation fee of £2 5s per pan, an increase of 10s, will be charged to those propei'ties which are served by the sanitation service. The finances of the borough show a very satisfactory position taking into account the increases which have taken place in wages and the cost of all materials, and the amount of permanent road improvement work carried out last year. The general account commenced the year on April 1, 1947, with a credit balance of £457 and concluded with a debit of £52-. This was due largely to non-recurring items of expenditure, of which the main items were: — Repairs to Rangiuru Bridge, £300; election expenses, £67; purchase of mowers, £60; and contribution to river work, £50. In addition there was increased [ expenditure on street work. i Separate and special accounts are ; all very close to balanced, and the I position of all these is very satisfactory.