I RECENTLY received my copy of the Warrington Borough News (March 1997) and was very interested to read in the annual report 'Where the money came from' and 'How it was spent.'

One item stuck out like a sore thumb. Nearly one third of the expenditure - some £24.635 million - was devoted to 'Other expenses including collecting local taxes, paying benefits, electoral services.'

'Local taxes' presumably refers to the council tax and maybe the business rates. Since these two collect some £10.35 million, the cost of collection cannot amount to more than about £1.5 million, on the basis of 10-15 per cent.

I cannot imagine the cost of 'electoral services' is very high - say, for the sake of argument, £500,000.

This suggests, in default of any other information, that the Borough Council is paying benefits in the order of £22.635 million.

If this sum is being paid in benefits, what are these benefits and who is getting them? Surely we should be told, if only in general terms. And if, as I suspect, £22.635 million is not all spent on benefits, what other substantial items are there? Surely the taxpayer deserves more detail on this item?

I cannot imagine any domestic householder being happy not knowing on what he had spent one third of his annual income.

L. L. MARTIN

Dudlow Green Road

Appleton

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