Beaver County Monitor PAGE 5 Letters to the Editor must be signed and have a daytime phone number for verification. Comments do not necessarily express the editorial policy or viewpoint of the Beaver County Monitor. Equal space will be provided for opposing views. Dear Editor, Upon occurred to watching BRAVEHEART, it me that if we removed the barbarianism from the movie and replaced it with the news media, our high tech society, today’s politicians, the lies and deception, we are at the same mercy that the Scots were in the 14th century. They have taxed us beyond all fairness, our noble leader with the stroke of a pen took one million seven hundred thousand acres from the people of Utah. Watch and see what he does with the salvage timber sales after the election, if we are blind and stupid enough to re-elect him. They guise themselves under the umbrella of environmentalist; we all are environmentalists. This is our land...this clothes and shelters us. is the land that feeds, Do they think we are stupid enough to ruin our very own livelihood? The similarity is overwhelming. The time frame is different. But, truly look at the meaning behind the movie: it is about FREEDOM. What we have now isn’t the freedom that our forefathers fought and lost their lives for, or what this great country was built on. We have fought many wars for freedom and now we are letting them take it from us a measure at atime. I have faith in the people of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA that they are intelligent enough to see through this phony facade. We have been lied to and pacified while they steal Dear Editor: It seems The committee made some good recommendations, but apparently the County Commission has chosen to ignore them. It sounds like there is enough other controversy in Beaver County now that this has almost been overlooked. Tam in New Hampshire for a year, but I plan to return to Beaver County in the fall of 1997, and I am just as concerned about this issue as before. /s/ Rick Webster Goffstown, NH has What’s it gonna’ a — wouldn't cost much for funds were available for such a project. Think of the savings in heating and other costs, and there would be no more dust and wind. Sounds Crazy? Oh, they had answers for everything. Thankfully this did not get off the pad. Then for the next generation: An Industrial Park! Think of it! It would bring in industries, businesses and prosperity. It wouldn't cost us anything for it would pay for itself. Of course it was brought out that if you did not vote for the bond you had no foresight and Milford would fold up and become a dust bowl. So we fell for that one. Now what do we have? Acres and acres of weeds and the curbs. The taxpayer footed the bill! Now the new generation has a proposal that it would be foolish to turn down. Doesn't this sound familiar? The county needs to build a large prison complex. It won't cost much for the tenants will pay the bills. It will create jobs and bring in businesses. with a court complex i.e. $3,439,437 in the feasibility study which increased to $6,257,016 for the same category facility a few months later. Commissioner’s recommendation At the request of the Beaver County Commission, Zions Public Finance has developed debt service figures Bank comparing a $6.5 million general obligation bond issue with that of a Municipal Building Authority (MBA) lease revenue bond issue which would deliver the same construction proceeds. The difference in payments is approximately $105,000 per year for twenty years or a total of $2,100,000 over twenty years. (The general obligation bonds would cost about $549,300 per year while the MBA lease revenue bonds would cost about $654,200 per year.) The MBA lease revenue bonds cost more We are flooded with reasons why we should vote because they are subject to annual appropriation and therefore have less secure collateral than the general obligation bonds. In addition, there are higher costs of issuance such as legal because there are not enough beds in the jail. Seriously, think this.one over! It is your money! fees and underwriting fees associated with a MBA lease revenue bond. A lease revenue bond issue would also require a debt /s/Norman Baxter service reserve fund and a capitalized interest fund, both of (Mr. Baxter submitted this letter before the May referendum. Since he says he hasn’t changed his which would cost the County slightly more money. All of these factors have been included in arriving at the $105,000 per year figure. opinion, some things are worth repeating.) Like it or not....Utah County taxpayers are on the hook! Opening date for the 600 bed Utah County Jail has been pushed back again - this time to late spring or early summer of 1997......more than 3 % years after the ground Let’s work with $3 million CIB loan at 2.5% and $5.5 million at 7.5%. Allowing for disproportionate principle amounts this makes an average rate of 5.5% (a little less than the 5.64% used by the county.) Next multiply $8,500,000.(cost of facility) X 5.5% interest = $ 467,500 + 2 = $233,750 to average the yearly interest. $233,750 X 20 years = $4,675,000 total interest. Add the interest to building cost: $8,500,000. + $4,675,000. = $13,175,000. Subtract the court lease at $56,000 per year for 20 years = $1,120,000 (Do note: the court facility pays back less than half the projected cost of construction at the current lease rate of $8.04. Logically, asking the State to increase the lease rate is synonymous with asking the State to increase your taxes.) Subtract the $1,120,000 court lease from the $13,175,000 principle and interest = $12,055,000. + 20 years to determine yearly payback = $602,750. + $320,000,000 (county taxable valuation) = 0.00188 tax increase rate. To determine the “worst possible case” increase for your personal situation, multiply the taxable value on the tax bill you just received by 0.00188. Example: Taxable value of a $100,000 primary residence is $55,000 (primary ‘breaking. Completion date is a mute point, however, because voters refused not authorize funds to staff the facility. Sheriff Dave Bateman said he has a commitment from Utah County Commissioners (are those fellows up for re-election 2?) to declare truth in taxation status and appropriate the funds by raising county property taxes after the sunset provision of SB254 concludes at the end of 1996. Construction cost of the complex is approximately $20 million. Bateman did not clarify staffing cost. residences are taxed at the rate of 55% of market value.) $55,000 X 0.00188 = $103.00 yearly tax increase related to an $8.5 million jail/court complex. Housing state prisoners, if they are available, could lower this figure. Option 2: Committee recommendation 16 cell/32 bed jail with no court. The Utah County jail and the proposed Beaver County public safety building share one common factor: Gillies, Stransky, Brems and Smith are the architects for both projects. Unrealistic figures prompted the advisory committee to suggest that architectural services onshe Beaveree County project be rebid. bas 122 Bed Jail with 7,000 Square Foot Courtroom at $8.5 million NEWS RELEASE for this bond. And of course there are the threats of how we will have criminals all over our streets ust? cost ya’? The Public Safety Bond Issue Proposition allows bonding for up to 25 years. “Worst possible case” payback in letter Beaver County Commissioners sent to residents in support of the Proposition appears to be calculated on a 20-year basis for $6.5 million. It is also pertinent to note that NOWHERE in the language of the Proposition does it say that commissioners are limited in the amount they can spend for a jail....nor are they restricted from adding any amount of lease revenue bonds to the grand total. $6.5 million may actually be far lower than the “worst case scenario.” Just for fun, let’s try a simple formula to estimate how the options effect YOUR PERSONAL SITUATION. It may not be completely accurate, but it is likely to come closer than the architect’s estimate of cost for a 32 bed jail What are GO Bonds? Estimated 1995 fair market value for Beaver County is reported as $363,742,750. Utah State Code allows issuance of GO Bonds for 2% of that value - or, $7,274,855. GO Bonds require the approval of the voting residents. Such approval permits the bonds to be secured by Beaver County property, much like a first mortgage on real estate. They are classed as a secure investment, keeping interest rates low. What are Lease Revenue Bonds? Lease Revenue Bonds are secured by anticipated income. Such bonds are not backed by county value. Borrowing limit is determined in the market place by the amount of interest the borrowing entity is willing to pay. Obviously, this is a riskier investment for lenders, causing the interest rate to go up. proposed that Milford be made into a model City. It would be a Garden of Eden, and an envy of the country. It was proposed that a large mound of dirt be placed south of town then a clear plastic cover placed over it. The temperature and humidity would be controlled. No more bugs, mice and snakes. It would be large enough for future expansion It Dear Alice, I want to thank you for your work on the committee for the “judicial complex” or whatever it is called. I think many of the recommendations makes were good, and should have been followed. Time is running out now, and I feel that ~ this is important to take.a ‘strong. Stand against neces election to build something we may not want. generation proposal that cannot be turned down. A few years after World War IL, it was everything we have worked for. We do have an alliance. We have the power to vote....but do we? NO. I watched on television a country where the people stood in lines for days to vote for their freedom, and we have less than 40% voter turn out. That is pathetic! /s/ Joan Hardy Glendale, Oregon bond issue proposal. I want to encourage you to do everything possible to defeat the jail bond election, again. A decision needs to be made as to just what is going to be built before a bond’ election is passed to build it. We should be voting on what we want to build, not the bond that each 1, 1996 $2 million building covered by 2.5% CIB loan. 2.5% interest X $2,000,000 = $50,000 + 2 = $25,000 average yearly interest X 20 years = $500,000 total interest + $2,000,000 principle Il Letters To The Editor ‘ NOVEMBER $2,500,000= 20 years= $125,000 yearly payback = ints oi soligwmainos _$320,000,000 = 0.00039 X $55,900= $21.48 tax increase on a $100,000 primary residence. ©, 0.00039 X $33,000 = $12.87 increase cn a $50,000 primary residence. $40,000 valuation pximary residence = $8.58 increase. Your tax dollars in action! Option 3: Committee recommendation 32 celV64 bed jail with no court Immanuel Foundation members Georgia Lee, David Stratton and Tony Hamilton have been incarcerated in the Juab County jail since September 28. The three prisoners are scheduled to be tried on November 20 for various Class C Misdemeanor charges. Reported daily cost per prisoner is $35.00, totaling $105.00 per day. If they remain in jail until the trial date, the county will have a bill for 53 days, or $5,565.00 plus transportation $3 million nee covered by 2.5% CIB loan. $3,000,000 X 2.25% = $75,000 + 2 - $37,500 X 20= $750,000 + $3,000,000= $3,750,000 = 20 = $187,500+ $320,000,000 = 0.00059 X $55,000 = $32.23 for $100,000 or X $33,000 = $19.47 for $60,000 or X $22,000 = $ 12.98 for $40,000. . valuation primary residence . Again, there is a possibility of lowering this figure by housing state prisoners if they are available. Now that you have the idea, it is casy to substitute the taxable value on your property tax bill for the ones used above to determine roughly how much you will pay. Keep in mind, that with growth and increased county valuation the rate can go costs. Charges against the three prisoners stem from incidents related to the tax sale of property located in western Beaver County which the Foundation owned... free and clear......with no mortgage. Notice of final tax sale in May 1994 listed the minimum bid as $10, 166.91.' Considering that the Foundation paid upwards: of $170,000. for it, tax sale purchaser Ranger Enterprises picked upa real bargain at about $15,000. Dollar amount over and above the minimum bid goes into a trust account to be returned to the defaulting property owner. (Can the county keep it to pay the cost of members’ imprisonment?) By contrast, a business in the eastern half of the county owes a delinquent tax bill totaling more than the $170,000+ that the Foundation originally paid for their property: Amount owing was reported by the treasurer's office at about $184,000. Recovery by tax sale is, however, not a viable option since the entity has filed Chapter 11 Bankruptcy. The moral to this story? Hug your mortgage holder! Debt may be the only way to hold onto private property. down.....unless, of course, the assessment on your property goes up. VOTEVY |Chad Johnson Beaver County Commissioner Vote for Experience! _ 1) Has served as a Beaver County Commissioner for the past 20 Years. 2) Has served the past 14 years as Chairman of the Southwest Private ial Council. 3) Served the Past 8 Years as a member of the State Job Training Coordinating Council. 4) Serves on the State/Local Joint Highway Committee. 5) Served 2 terms on the Governors Advisory Council. 6) Currently serves as Chairman of the Utah Association of Counties Job Training, and Economic Development Committee. 7) Has served on numerous state and local committees and advisory boards. I would really appreciate your vote on November 5. GORDON ROBERTS BEAVER COUNTY COMMISSIONER. | NEW LEADERSHIP FROM AN EXPERIENCED LEADER Serves on Board of Directors for the National Milk Producers Relemson (A national organization). Serves as First Vice Chairman of Board of Directors Western Dairymen Co-op Inc. (An Eight State Organization.) Former President of Board of Directors Tiemann Milk pes (A Three State Oganization. ) “Former Secretary for Board of Directors Western General Dairies Inc. Former Secretary for Board of Directors Hi-Land Dairy Association. *Served on Beaver City Board of Adjustments Committee. *President West Field Canal and Irrigation Company. Successful Farmer and Dairyman *Initial developer of Beaver North Freeway Interchange. I would appreciate your support on November 5. ee hank You.