BOROUGH RATES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 June 1940, Page 6

BOROUGH RATES

REVIEW BY THE MAYOR \ SATISFACTORY POSITION. FURTHER PERMANENT WORKS. A feature of this year’s financial position, of Masterlon Borough is that I he rates to be levied are almost the same, except for some very minor alterations in one or two special rates, as those levied last year. Actually the estimated rate revenue for the current year is less than that for last year, due to certain properties having been transferred to the Crown. The Mayor, Mr T. Jordan, in a review of the general, position of the borough, said this morning that it could be regarded as completely satisfactory. The council had done everything it could on behalf of the ratepayers.

“To see what could be done for the ratepayers,” said Mr Jordan, “the council searched all the avenues of possible receipts and examined closely all the items of expenditure. In the case of receipts we are faced with the prospect of reduced returns, as many of our sources are subject to the influence of the war conditions now-pre-vailing, as for example, petrol taxation, rentals and licence fees in general. On the other hand, it is (difficult to curtail expenditure without the risk of causing unemployment in the ranks of our staff. In addition, we have to provide for the first time for a full year’s interest and sinking fund on the loan of £3OOO raised for the purpose of erecting buildings on the farm at Mangaone and half year’s interest and sinking fund on the loan of £10,500 recently sanctioned by the ratepayers. Formerly, the Local Bodies Loans Board permitted the first half-year's interest and sinking fund in a case such as this to be included in the loan moneys and payable out of it but this practice has recently been discontinued. We have succeeded in arranging for these two items without adding to the ratepayers’ burden. We had hoped to be able to make a reduction in rhe gas rate at present being levied but the council thought it would be imprudent to attempt io reduce the rate in this critical year. We have provided for our usual annual instalment of permanent work in sealing roads and kerbing footpaths out of revenue. In this connection I should like to point out that we are approaching the end of the permanent sealing of our streets and that this is being accomplished without recourse to borrowing. The ratepayers of the future will consequently not be asked to shoulder any of the charges for this capital work. On the whole, I think that the ratepayers may regard the situation as being completely satisfactory and if they compare the rate charges with those of other boroughs of similar size I think they will have little cause for com-

plaint. I know there are anomalies and apparent injustices under the present system of rating, which is based on the unimproved value of land. Personally, I am strongly of opinion that the most equitable method of rating is on the annual or capital value, and I am hopeful that before long something will be done to alter the existing system. The question has already been attacked by the Municipal Association and will be pursued further.”

THIS YEAR’S LEVY

PRACTICALLY NO ALTERATION

The rates to be levied this year are as follow:—

Rating Area. Consolidated Rate. South. Lansdowne. d. d. General 4.G25 4.625 Separate: Library .2.2 Special: — No. 1 Conversion 2.975 2.975 Waipoua R. Loan .2.2 Cole Street and Lincoln Rd 02 North'll Approach .075 No. 3 Conversion .425 Borough Endowment Bldgs 08 .08 8.6 8.08 Water Supply rate (A.V.) 2?% or l" ( ;i 2;% or lg% Hospital Rate A.V.) 51% 51% Street lighting Rate (A.V.) 2.1% 2’,%

Special (Drainage Loan) .2d Special Rating Area; Special No. 2 Conversion Loan (U.V.) 4d Special Rating Area: Special Footpaths Loan ,08d Special Rating Area. The only alterations compared with last year are the addition this year of the Borough Endowment Buildings rate in the consolidated rate, the special drainage loan rate (special rating area) is now .2d. as compared with ,18d last year, and the special footpaths loan (special rating area) which is ,08d (nil last year).