County Rate Lowered To 1.75d But More Income Is Expected This Year

Taupo Times, Volume XIV, Issue 54, 13 July 1965, Page 1

County Rate Lowered To 1.75d

But More Income Is Expected This Year

A lower rate of 1.75d. in the & on the capital value will produce more money for works in the Taupo County this year because of the increased valuation of the area. The council will spend nearly £250,000, made up of grants — subsidies and rates — sundry income in almost equal parts. A differential rate has been struck for Mangakino which for the first time operates as a county town.

Special rates to be struck this year will include 1/1 0th of a penny on capital value for the Whakamaru Hall rating area and l/12th of a penny in the £ for the Bay of Plenty catchment commission area. The Hawke's Bay Catchment Board rate and the Rangitikei Catchment Board ievy will be paid out of the general account. They total £19/14/-.

The council plans to finance an expanded works programme of some £9000 more than was spent last year. It expects to reeeive some £66,745 from rates with inspection fees £4785, administration and commissions £6105 and sundry ahd miscellaneous incomes £15,175. This last figure will include £11,000 from the plant operating fund and petrol tax refunds. A eonsiderable programme of works is pianned totalling £165,986, of which the council will pay £36,500, the remainder being made up under subsidies, flood damage and roads vote. Major items on the programme of subsidised work include £44,000 for maintenance (county share £11,000), £40,906 for major construction (county share £8080) and £21,900 for flood damage (county share £7300). The biggest single items on the works programme include £4980 for Mangakino roads and £2300 for

■ the Omoho Stream bridge. i Grants for State highways 1 will total £17,700 and this ; will be spent on sealing and maintenance work on State Highway 30. Roads vote money will total £20,650 for Western Bay Road, Poihipi and other roads and Tihoi Road. The council pays £1600 of this amount. Expected cost of fire protection services throughout the county is £1550, a rise of £147 on last year's actual expenditure. Reserves and ! domains have been allocat-j

ed £1940 (last year £1953), the airport £778 ( — ), rubbish tips £950 (£848), Turangi development £500 (£126). Administration and works organisation costs will rise this year from £34,430 to £39,283 with additional costs for election expenses, office equipment and sufyseriptions of £2300 (£496), This brings the total to £41,583 (£34,926). A further £12,000 will be placed in reserves this year (£12,000) and loan repayments will include £3430 for capital advances repayment (£3430) and £1680 staff housing loan (£1203). The council has budgeted for a small deficit of £445, but it- is expected that some items of income will rise a little over the forecast.