CITY'S EXPENDITURE
, ... ' DEPARTURE IN PRINCIPLES. Hon. J. G. W. Aitken, M.L.C., president of the Greater Wellington Town Planning and Municipal Electors' Association, in a letter to the Mayor and city councillors draws attention to the undermentioned facto:—. 1 • 1. The rateable value of the city, having materially increased during the past five years, the amount of general rates collected in, 1915, compared with 1911, shows an increase of approximately .£16,000 for the year. 2. The revenue-froin rents of the city's properties shows an increaso for 1915 of i£12,000. over that of 1911. 3. The amount expended out of the general account on works of a permanent nature (in. reality capital expenditure) has during the five-year period-increased to such an extent that during 1915 the - ■total amount so expended exceeded £20,000, equal to 25 per cent, of the total general rate 'collected. 4. In view of the above facts, the in.-', crease of revenue has not had the natural effect of reducing the amount of the general rate levied upon the ratepayers. 5. This policy has resulted in a direct contradiction of the- forecast of successive Mayors (for majiy years past), namely, that the increased rents derived from the city's property would materially reduce the annual burden of the ratepayers. 6. The large expenditure out of the general rate of suniij properly chargeable to capital, which I have already pointed out, amounts to a very large sum—one particular item," viz., Day's Bay, is not less than .£lo,ooo—in the opinion of the executive is unsound in principle, and enables your council to carry out extensive works, which should b& sanctioned by the ratepayers before being undertaken. My. executive therefore resepctfully re- 1 quests that the council should, in its financial policy, resort to the old established principle that the general rate should be levied each year on the basis that tho total receipts obtained therefrom, plus rentals and other general revenue received, should not exreed the amount necessary to cover administration and maintenance expenses. My executive trusts that the estimates for this year will be fixed so as to cover bare necessities only, that the general rate -be reduced accordingly, and that its recommendation will receivo the favourable consideration of your council, and be put into ac.tive operation during the passing of the estimates for the current financial year.—On behalf ~of the executive, -yours faithfully (egd.J J.'- Ct. - W.; Aitkeri, President. "■ ' '•
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Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2799, 17 June 1916, Page 10
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399CITY'S EXPENDITURE Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2799, 17 June 1916, Page 10
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