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Show I i UINTAH BASIN STANDARD- - Jinuinr 25. 2000- - Pxpe IS Tax adjustments would be taken from education fund In a legislative session commit- ted to education funding. Sen. Howard Nielson is sponsoring two tax adjustments that would carve more than 80 million over 5 years from Utah's school fund. said his two Nielson. bills would adjust tax brackets and shill exemptions to shave between $45 and $50 a year from taxpayers' bills. And he said his plan, which would reduce the state funding pool for public schools and universities, wouldn't ncsxanly be a blow to Utah's schools. He Mid the Legislature could transfer money from the general which is funded by taxes fund other than income taxes to cover the decreaM in the school fund. "We always make sure schools get their money, whether it's from the general fund or the school fund," Mid Nielson. "They really don't need to worry, becauM I think public edu- cation will be the number-on- e priority all the wgy through." Education oflicials say that, while it is unclear whether Nielson's bills will hurt education Rinding, its never good to see the pool of funds available for schools being drained. "We're concerned in a general sense when there's a reduction in revenues when theres such chronic needs for education in the state," Mid Steven O. Laing, superintendent of public instruction for the Utah State Board of Education. The first plan. Senate Bill 24, would make minor cuts in state income tax brackets and tie them to the consumer price index for the Duchesne to host first tima. Nielson said Utah's tax brackets have not been adjusted in 30 years, meaning most Utah residents fall into the highest tax bracket "Whet are have currently is a system that purports to be progressive, but becauM of the inflation over the years, wt essentially haves flat tax," said State Tax Commissioner R. Bruce Johnson. The tax-rat- e adjustment, scheduled to take effect in 2002. would Mp 17 million from the school Aind in its first full year of implementation. It may also mean n tax break for taxpayers. Tying the tax Region Drill Team Contest Region 13 Drill Teem Com petition will be held at Duchesne High School on Saturday, Jan. 29 at 11:30 am. Duchesne will be boating San Juan, kfonticelio, and Grand High schools. Duchesne has participated in competition at Northndge where they placed 2 in Dance and low-inco- brackets to inflation means tha brockets would likely riM faster than personal income, meaning Utah's poorer residents would slip into t.i.V -v- w-nry? -- U " " VM ! : '. " O1 7 -J c- 'rTN -- J 1 lower brackets over time. But teachers art worried about losing education money, said Jim Eldndge, director of government relations for tha Utah Education Association, Utah's largest teachers union. We're not arguing against the intent to make the income tax progressive. Our concern it it needs to be done in a comprehensive way to make it revenue-neutral,- " Eldndge Nielsons other proposal. Senate Bill 29, would increase the personal exemption on state tax from 7$ percent of the federal exemption to 100 percent, phased in over five yean. Fiscal analysts say tha average taxpayer would see a reduction of abmit $43 once the bill is hilly implemented. The tax cut would mean $19.5 million bM revenue for the state next year and $75 million n year less by the time it is in full effect in the 2005 fiscal year. Need Drywall )Vork ? CONTEST W1NNER-- M) ton third grade student Rom Ontiveros shows the price winning breakfast poster she created of a little girt jumping rope with the advice "Jump Start Your Day With Breakfast," written on lop. Rosa is pictured holding her prize, a bright yellow Twccty Bird standing near kitchen manager Betty Fiilingim. Junior duck stamp contest entries now being accepted Utah's kindergarten through high school ago students may learn about the value of wetlands, and may win ribbons and art supply pnxes, by participating in the 2000 Federal Junior Duck Stamp Con- test. Toparticipato. public, private and home school students wwsfsebeen Ncrth Amerkanduck. goose species, research the species and its habitat, and then depict the water-fow-l species chosen in an artistic medium. Students from aU 50 states and the District of Columbia compete annually in the contest. Local school entries are forwarded to state contests. where first, second, and third prises arc awarded to the student artists after being judged by a panel of artists and waterfowl experts. A best of show winner also is selected at the state level to compete nationally . The artwork selected as the winner of the national show becomes the design for the fallowing year's Federal Junior Duck Stamp. The first place national show winner also is swarded a 12.500 scholarship. As in years past, the Division of Wildlife Resources, through its Project WILD program, is proud to be a local sponsor of the Federal Junior Duck Sump Contest. Working in cooperation with Utah's teachers and the Ogden Nature Center, the Division will act as the stote receiving site for entries generated among Utah's students. Students may obtain contest entry forms, which include specific guidelines for entries, from public school art teachers statewide or by contacting Diana Vos, Project WILD wildlife education specialist for the Division of WildiiTt Resources, at 9 or via email at (801) dvosfa state.ut.ua. To be entered in the contest entries must be postmarked no later than March 15 and mailed to the following address: Diana Vos. Utoh Division of Wildlife Resources, P.O. Box 146301. Salt Lake City, L'uh 53S-471- 64114-630- 1 The award winners and their families will be honored at an awards ceremony tentatively scheduled for April 12 at the Ogden Nature Cen- We do patches, basements, remodels, or full houses. DUCHESNE HIGH DRILLTEAM-Eri- n Allen. Jackie Bird. Melanie Park. Michdlc Carter (advisor). Jamie Bird. Kefice Moon, Nikki Moon. Jodi Given. Heather Spencer. Maren Farnsworth. Mary Jo Farley. Morgan Kelsey. Sylvia Pena. Call Randy 722-295- 0 r a ter. Ribbons and art supplies given to the stote winners are niade possible through the financial donations of individuals and businesses. Those intweed in donating money for prices suqr.centact the.Qgdetj lure Center at (801) 621 7595. After the awards ceremony, the Are -- winning art work will be on display at the nature center for a few wvekai The Ogden Nature Center ia at 966 W. 12ih St. in Ogden and ia open from 1 0 am. to 4 p m, Mondays through Saturdays. Sine 1934, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act, also known as the Duck Stamp Act, Americans have lined up for the opportunity to collect these works of art published as Federal Duck Stomps. For more than 60 yean, he money generated from Duck Stamp sales has been used to buy or lease wetlands for tha National Wildlife Refuge System, resulting in the preservation of millions of acres or waterfowl habitat in the United State. The Federal Junior Duck Stamp program was initiated in 1 994 to increase knowledge about the Federal Duck Stamp as a conservation program, and to teach tile importance of wotiand conservation. It provideo youth, from kindergarten through nigh school the opportunity toparticipato in activities thst raise awareness ofour nation's wildlife resources. Teachers throughout the nation use the curriculum to develop an understanding and appreciation of wetlands and waterfowl and to introduce students to the annual Federal Junior Duck Stamp Contest Like their predecessors. Junior Duck Stamps are sold throughout the country to collectors and enthusiasts of fine art Proceeds from the sale of the stamps support conserve-tio- n education awards and scholarships to contest participants. - o0 Add money at any time. Opportunities TO WITHDRAW WITHOUT PENALTY.0 Pays high market rates.00 Now is the time to make your CD rollover, fitancuil windfall, or savings Typically, US rMy.V vyi new fnt work harder. CDs are inflexible. Tbe Ultimate CD. however, is tied directly to the interest rate of a higher yielding earned is at least within 0 solid returns with U-- ar of the ar Treasury Note. The interest rate U.S. Treasury Note. This means a rate that increases with the market. You can add money to the Ultimate CD at any time. So you'll continually earn a competitive market rate. Returns increase as the halance grown. And there are opportunities to withdraw without penalty. To open tour Ultimate CD call one of our branches, or stop by any of our in-sto- SUCCL5S1UL SniLLRS-Duchcvn- e 00-49-9979, visit ZIONS BANK locations with extended hours. re Elementary haJ 29 very excited contcMants participating in the Spelling Bee I 4 Thurtdsy, Wumm were: I" place - Tony Lyn Chant; 2 place Cana Krlsrn: 3 place Coruiey Madvcn; anJ alternate - Shana Jcncen. Duchesne Elementary students and faculty wish these young ladies success in the Duchesne District Spelling Bee w huh w ill be hclj on Jan. 27. Copy) 1 Mwbl V. htW CD V w WKViWn hr J |