COUNTY FINANCES

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3254, 19 April 1943, Page 5

COUNTY FINANCES

SOUND POSITION SHOWN

REVIEW BY CHAIRMAN

RECORD COLLECTION OF RATES

County finances were comprehensively reviewed by the chairman, Mr W. Marshall, at the monthly meeting of the Ohinemuri County Council on Wednesday, when he submitted a report on the balance-sheet for the year ended March 31, 1943. It was shown that the financial year had started with a credit in the general account of £709 Ils lOd, and had ended with a credit balance of £2053 15s 9d.

“The total European rates struck for the year, not including watercharges, amounted to £BB7l 18s, an increase of £O6 Os 4d compared witn the previous year, caused by a small increase in the Mangaiti bridge, Pukekauri road and Waihi-Whanga-mata road special rates,” stated the chairman. “The total current rates collected during the yhar amounted to £8646 10s 6d, being 97.46 per cent, of the amount struck—an increase of .33 per cent, on last year, which was a record for this county. . This is an achievement likely to be exceeded by very few counties. The arrears collected totalled £475 18s 7d, making a grand total of rates collected of £9122 9s Id, which fequals 102.81 per cent, of the amount struck, a decrease of .96 per cent, on last year. Summary of 'Collections

“Although the details are not required in the balance-sheet, the following is a summary of rates collected in each riding:—Mangaiti: Total rates struck, £1358; current rates collected, £1345; percentage, 99.04; total collected, including . arrears, £1345; percentage collected, including arrears, to amount struck, 99.04. Waihi West: £936; £923; 98.61; £944; 100.85. Komata (including drainage): £2500; £2460'; 98.4; £2519; 100.76. Waihi: £1987; £1940; 97.63; £2167; 109.05. Paeroa: £1870; £1777; 95.02; £1930; 103.20. Townships: £221; £201; 90.95; £217; 98.19. In the Mangaiti riding all rates, both current and arrears, have again been paid with the exception of those on the property in the name of the State Advances Corporation. The total of rates outstanding at the end of the year was £847 16s, a reduction of £295 6s, lOd compared with the amount outstanding at the end of the previous year, and is still further the lowest amount outstanding for this county on record. During the year'£ll 4s has been written off, due mostly to abandoned Crown land and rates being irrecoverable. The following is a statement of rates outstanding at the end of each year since, 1920. It is not possible to compare the years before 1920 as portion was at that date taken into the newly-formed Hauraki Plains County: 1920, £6246; 1921, £5388; 1922, £4728; 1923, £6320; 1924, £7510; e 1925, £7798; 1926, £5398; 1927, £4988; 1928, £4851; 1929, £4254; 1930, £4354; 1931, £5708; 1932, £5401; 1933, £5384; 1934 £4887; 1935, £4183; 1936, £3203; 1937, £3069; 1938, £2860; 1939, £2807; 1940, £2345; 1941, £1545; 1942, £1143; 1943, £B4B. Ratepayers’ Ready Response

“Thanks are due to the ratepayer’s for the ready response to the request for prompt payment of rates, and also for payment of arrears owing. There are quite a few who are now free of debt to the council and who have not been so for many years. Native rates levied totalled £4BB 10s 2d, and only £B7 11s lOd was paid, being 17.9 per cent, of the amount struck. The 1 balance, together with the amount outstanding for the previous year, making a total of' £854 lfis 4d has been written off. Receipts And Payments “The receipts for the year totalled £15,362 17s 4d and the payments £13,602 fife 10d, against £22,924 10s 3d and £22,425 8s 9d respectively for the previous year, . accounted for mainly by no Scheme 13 labour, and a reduction in Main Highways, Public Works, and a fairly general reduction in most accounts. ... Officials Congratulated The chairman commented on the early preparation of the, balancesheet and congratulated the county clerk, Mr A. A. Jenkinson, and his assistant on their excellent work, as well as on the fine collection of rates. Mr Marshall added that Mr Jenkinson was at the'presen' also acting as town clerk of Paeroa, and said it must be rather unique for a man acting in a dual capacity to have both county and borough balance-sheets ready by April 12.

The council unanimously • decided to place on record appreciation of the work done, and the chairman’s report was then adopted.