STRATFORD COUNTY

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 440, 22 May 1937, Page 5

STRATFORD COUNTY

Estimates For Year The rates proposed and approved for confirmation by the Stratford County Council yesterday show an increase in the levy over the whole county of £2277. This increase is principally due to increased working costs, increased hospital levy, proposed increased expenditure on main highways and main roads and renewal of plant. It is proposed again to apply for an advance on subsidy on rates for the year 1937-38, and this amount has been shown in the estimated receipts. On account of the varying percentage of reductions in valuations in the various ridings the share of general expenses has been altered very materially, to the disadvantage of both the north and the south ridings. The following table illustrates the position, taking the general expenditure to be- apportioned among the ridings to be £18,000: North riding, apportioned on old values, £4885; apportioned on new values, £5150; difference, increase of £265; south, £3858, £445, increase £560; east. £4155, £3940, decrease £215; west, £4140, £3655, decrease £485; Mangaehu, £770, £685, decrease £B5; Ngatimaru, £165, £125, decrease £4O. This alteration, -which is beyond the control of the council, has a particularly serious effect on the two ridings mentioned more especially at a time when the general expenses as a whole have increased. The balance which previously existed between the ridings has been destroyed. *The harbour rate for the current year remains unaltered, as it must be levied on the old rates. The estimates are:— Revenue: Licensing expenses £45, collection of rates £75, drivers’ licenses £375, publicans* licenses £5O, dog fees £l5O, heavy traffic fees £590, auctioneers' licenses £75, rents £290. -Share of general expenses: North riding £5150, south riding £4445; east riding £3940, west riding £3655, Mangaehu riding £685, Ngatimaru riding £125; total, £19,650. Expenditure: Salaries £l9BO, advertising, printing and stationery £l2O, audit £4O, county buildings £lOO, collection of license fees £lO, dog registration £5O, licensing expenses £45, legal expenses . £lO, office expenses £65, pound expenses £l3, collection of rates £42, telephones and stamps £B5, valuations (new rolls) £2OO, insurances £240, travelling expenses £290. Grants: Cemetery £3O, Egpiont N.P. Board £3O, King George V. memorial fund £2O, Public Revenues Act £5O, bank interest and charges £275, general wages £6OO, hospital levy £3230, National Provident Fund £2O, stock and maintenance of plant £B5O, loan charges £7OOO. New plant: Engineer's cay £lOO. caterpillar tractor £4OO, trucks (2) £7OO, main highways £1735, main roads £1275, contingencies £45; total, £19,650. The riding rate?, proposed are: North, 3 5-8 d in the £1 to produce £5330 (£4827 last year); south, 33d, £4765 (£3770); east, sd, £5625 (£4559); west, 4 3-Bd, £4557 (£4625); Mangaehu, sd, £979 (£1053); Ngatimaru, 17d, £637 (£782).