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Show 10A Emery County Progress Castle Dale, Utah Tuesday August 14, 2001 Utahns tax burden subject of study Utah's economic and statistical unit has compiled a study comparing tax burdens shouldered by businesses and residents in selected western states. Initially, the tax commission's statistical unit evaluated seven states - I'tah, Colorado, Idaho, Arizona, Oregon, Washington and California. percent to 3.6 percent. California and Colorado made up a third tier with business tax burdens at 3.1 percent of personal income. Oregon remained in last place of personal income. The study concluded that the household tax burden, as a percent of personal income, remained virtually unchanged in According to the research, I 'tali, Colorado and Idaho reported business tax decreases of less than or equal to one-tenof 1 percent between fiscal year all th and I 'tabs tax burden declined from 2.9 percent to 2.8 percent, saving businesses approximately $61 million annually. While Utah property and sales taxes climbed jwreent and 19 percent respectively, corporate payments fell 5 percent. Corporate franchise and gross receipts dropped from $196 million to $187 million. The decrease put downward press mt on Utahs business tax 1007-100- 8 1 1 burden. The report indicates that business taxes declined significantly in four of the seven states - Arizona, California, Oregon and Washington. In Arizona , the tax slipped by 0.27 percent, equivalent to $97!) million in savings for businesses. California fell from 2.84 percent to 2.69 percent, saving businesses an estimated $2.2 billion. Oregon's burden decreased 0.90 percent, saving businesses $949 million. Washingtons business tax burden, the highest in the seven states, fell 0.29 percent. Due to difficulties in using es- timated gross state products for 1999, the statistics unit also calculated business tax burdens as a percent of personal income. Washingtons business tax burden, registering at 4.7 percent of personal income, remained in first place in the top tier. Utah, Arizona and Idaho were closely packed in a second tier with burdens ranging from 3.4 a fourth tier, with a busi- in ness tax burden of 2.6 percent seen states. 1997-9the household tax burden registered at 7.13 percent of personal income. In the burden stood at In 8 1999-200- 0 7.18 percent. With the exception of Colorado moving down to sixth place and pushing up Arizona to fifth, household burden rankings remained remarkably static. Utahs number one ranked household tax burden - 8.3 percent of personal income - registered more than one standard deviation higher than the average of 7.18 percent, a statistically significant result. But the 0.2 percent decline saved households approximately $99 million. Utah families propensity to produce more children results in higher demands for government services. The situation cul- minates in a higher than average tax burden, indicated the research report. Statistics from the 2000 census confirm that Utah has an extra person per household. Larger household sizes carry a significantly higher expenditure commitment for public education and government one-ha- lf services. Utahs truth-in-taxati- contain property assessments. State property taxes moved up 14 percent from 1997 to 1999. Although more than 49 taxing entities raised rates, overall property assessment growth remained below personal income expansion in the state. Two 21 percent annual in- - creates in capital gains propelled Utahs personal income tax tab to rise 23 percent. Sales taxes climbed 13 percent as the construction boom flattened out at the top of a $4 billion per year high mesa. Californias household tax burden increased three-tentto 7.87 percent of personal in. The jump come in placed the Golden State in second place, behind Utah and slightly ahead of Idaho's 7.78 hs 1999-200- 0 percent. Ranking third was Id;iho, with personal income growing almost 16 percent. Personal and property taxes grew almost 90 percent faster than income. The gains caused Idahos household tax burden to rise 0.29 from percent to 7.78 percent. In fourth place, Oregons household tax burden at 7.1 of 0 personal income in rose imperceptibly from 7.09 percent in 1997-9In 1998, Idaho voters passed an initiative that dropped col7.99 1 1999-200- 8. lections and limited future prop- erty tax bills to 3 percent growth. .Arizona switched places with Colorado, moving up to fifth in 1999-200- Personal income 0. taxes rose 41.7 percent. .Arizona's household property taxes climbed only 5 percent duringthe biennium. Colorados household burden downshifted to sixth place, falling from 6.84 percent to 6.48 percent of personal income for an effective tax decrease of $400 million. Income taxes rose 17 percent compared to a personal gain of 17.6 percent. Washington remained in sev- enth place, with the state's household tax burden rising a slight 0.02 from 9.66 to 5.68 per- cent of personal income. states tax burThe den rankings changed significantly when the statistics unit added Montana, Wyoming, New Mexico and Texas to the research study mix. Montana, Wyoming, New Mexico and Texas export oil, natural gas or coal in large quantities and use severance taxes to effectively pass the financial burden forw ard, at least initially, to consum- out-of-sta- te ers and businesses. In the evaluation, Wyoming led Washington for first place in the business tax burden rankings at 4.53 percent. Following closely behind Washingtons 4.15 percent were Texas at 3.95 percent and Montana at 3.86 percent. New Mexico ranked fifth with a business tax te burden of 3.55 percent. Falling into a second tier were Arizona in sixth place at 3.11 remained the same: Utah at 8.3 percent, California at 7.87 percent, Idaho at 7.78 percent and Oregon at 7.1 1 percent. percent, Colorado in ninth at 2.66 percent and California in 10th at 2.65 percent. Oregon ranked in a third tier at only 2.03 percent of gross state product. The household tax burden rankings did not change materially in the evaluation. The first through fourth place rankings at 7.05 percent of personal income. At 5.72 percent, Montanas household tax burden registered slightly higher than Washingtons 5.68 percent. percent, Idaho in seventh at 2.95 percent, Utah in eighth at 2.80 New Mexico slipped into fifth Texas ended up in ninth place at only 4.61 percent. Wyoming finished last with a household tax burden of 3.36 percent. Fair Continued from PAGE 1 A. have the center section of the building open to the exhibits," he said. The reason for a smaller than usual turnout of exhibitors is a puzzling one for those involved with orchestrating the fair. Johnson said that many of the local vendors at the fair could have easily crossed over and had exhibits of their artifacts. There were some wonderful things from local vendors that were being sold that could have been on the exhibit side as w'ell, he said. Jensen believes that the reasons w'hv people dont enter their artifacts in the fair are many. A lot of people might think their items arent good enough, but you dont have to be perfect to enter the &TWr': If fair. She said that there is also the fear that the artifacts, painstakingly created by individuals, might be broken while on display. Next year she said she is going to suggest to the fair committee that the exhibits be roped off to help curious visitors resist the temptation to touch and inadvertently break an exhibit. Im sure well be making v Photo by Sylvia Nelson Kathryn Kuefler of Ferron displays her dress which won a blue ribbon, and will go on to the Utah State Fair. a lot of changes now that the exhibits have a stable building where they can be more protected, she said. The USU Extension will be collecting items to take to the Utah State Fair on Aug. 27 at the extension office. Call the 1 extension office at for more information. 381-238- Magnuson Lumber . Fuller OBrien Rebate Paint Sale FIX II PREP (I BUND $5" Rebate jffl, . PafSallM- 0 . Malawi 2 (iOm purchase. per gallon 495 East Main, Castle Dale 381-257- cmat? & gjjj? j5JS 4 b gESMa Y 911 E. 100 No., Price Mon-F- ri - 637-449- coordination, c 3 8:30 am 6:00 pm, Sat 8:30 am 7 Celehaiing 33 Years -- 1 ce, :30 pm Timing, We Repair ABS BRAKES PERFORMANCE - 4 EXHAUST SPECIALIST . SCHOOL OF DANCE Self-Discipli- ne are the results of quality instruction. 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