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Show t r P C CITY THE SALT LAKE TIMES Rampton Presents Budget To Joint Legislative Session e After his speech, a budget document was distributed, and legislators ended their first day y of a budget session by into separating appropriations committees to help legislative budget analysts give a breakdown on dpeartmental requests. I can report to you that the finances of the state, while taut, arent stretching to the breaking point," said Gov. Rampton in leading off his budgetary recommendations for the fiscal year that starts July 1. The projected budgetary surplus is expected to come from two1 sources $10,054,400 which is already in hand carried over from the end of a fiscal year last June 30, and another $12,171,700 which is estimated to accrue during the current fiscal year which ends next 618-pag- 20-da- Governor Calvin L. Rampton L. Rampton has this week to the Utah presented a $914,511,300 state Legislature fiscal year requirnext for budget ing no increase in taxes. There is still room, he told a joint session of the legislature, to eliminate the sales tax on prescription drugs a step he has recommended in previous sessions. The executive budget contemplates that step being taken and, iii addition, that most of an anticipated $22.2 million budgetary surplus be spent in almost a dozen different ways, Gov. Rampton said. He places dpecial emphasis in his address before a crowded House of Representatives' chamber to recommend special funding for such things as cutting elementary school classroom size, appointing more judges and giving them better pay, hiring more parole officers, and starting a new sidewalk building program. Gov. Calvin June 30. ' Gov. Rampton commended the Valley Location Considered for County Offices lease on the property north of the Salt Palace, which is owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of 50-ye- ar Saints. Can we legally build on that land? asked County Atty. Paul Van Dam at a recent meeting. Another question involves a dispute between the State Bicen Latter-da- y Mayor Seeks Solution to Apparent Budget Shortage declared commission chairman Ralph Y. McClure, a former plan- ner. Youve got to get facilities close to the people who demand them. The plan calls for a series of neighborhood service centers housing law enforcement, health and other activities to supplement operations in a government park where jobs would be clustered according to function. Is there any need for the county commission to be in the same building as the (Salt Lake City) The federally-funde- d Comprehensive EKmployment and Training Act was used by City Auditor Lawrence A. Jones to hire new workers and save money for regular departmental payrolls. He also used the funds to hire 78 school crossing guards in the public safety operation. Funds for the guards will run out by March. We are not going to lay off the guards or anybody else, stated Public Safety Commissioner Glen N. greener. "We have the money. It just isnt in the right accounts. The commissioner said Mr. Jones told him to transfer crossing guards to another account which has no money. Iwill not run that account county." According to Deputy County Atty. Tom Larson, all such questions must be answsered to the satisfaction of county officials and attorneys in Chicago before the bonds for the center can be issued and plans can get underway. John W. Gallivan, chairman of the art center planning commission, earlier had asked the immediate appointment of Dr. Cyril Harris of Columbia University as acoustical consultant for the hall. Harris did the acoustic design for the New York Metropolitan Opera House and the Minnesota Orchestra Hall. Gallivans committee also recommended appointment of Melvin T. Baird as architect in the $4.9 million restoration of the Capitol Theater as part of the concert hall complex of two buildings. Federal Excise Tax Reduced on Telephone Service Starting January 1, 1976, the Federal Excise Tax on telephone bills will drop one percent from seven to six percent. Customers of Mountain Bell in Utah will pay $1,090,000 less in excise taxes in Mayor Ted Wilson into the red. It will have the money in it before a transfer is made. Streets spent $200,000 last year for capital equipment, but it had no appropriation. We covered it up, argued the auditor. According to Assistant Personnel Director H. Edward Eoelle, Jr., the city got its $1.3 million CETA allocation for the fiscal year which (continued on page 4) TODAYS ... state grant to the 04110 10-mon- th ... $6.5 million 1327 With a $1.3 million pool of federal While there would be little or no money used to hire new workers monetary savings in moving county almost exhausted and five months government from the downtown left in the fiscal year, Salt Lake business district into the central City Mayor Ted Wilson has ordered valley, there would be a great a complete review of departmental increase in public service. budgets. That was the gist of a He also asked budget directors space study outlined Tuesday for and major department heads to commissioners, who generally en- begin outlining next years needs dorsed the concept, but agreed to on Feb. 1. act only if more study justifies it. I want to know where things are of of form the and what must be done, the mayor govRegardless ernment you end up with, decen- told fellow officials. We definitely tralization should be considered, need a budget review. legislators for having, over the past year, exercised fiscal restraint which now enables us to begin budgeting for a new fiscal year with a modest surplus and suffiasked Commissioner cient current revenue in prospect mayor? William E. Dunn. to allow us to render essential We dont think so, responded services with no increase in taxes. The proposed $914 million budget Curt Hawkins, study head. Theres no savings in decentralis about $74 million more than the in fact, wed authorized for the current fiscal izing government on an even to it be and contains about $252 keep lucky year be a tremenbut keel in thered million federal funds, or 28 Mr. in dous increase service, percent of the overall state budget. Hawkins said. One point in the governor's would draw to that message appear Moving services to abandoned legislative attention is a recomschools, churches or other buildings mendation to sock away $5 million to serve neighborhoods should of the surplus into reserve because boost efforts to consolidate city and of the still precarious position of he predicted. the national economy and the still county government, doses of on massive by Spurred (continued on page 2) federal money, the countys work force grew 98 poercent in the last 10 years while population of the valley increased 13 percent, Mr. Hawkins noted. As things stand county government is out of room, he stressed. tennial Commission and the county over which group will administer funds to build the arts center. The county, by law, cannot surrender control of bond money, but the state organization leaders said, We are not about to turn over a 'JOX FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 1976 Arts Center Faces Delay Due to Legal Questions Hiring of architects and consultants for Salt Lake Countys Bicentennial Concert Hall may be delayed several months to a year until legal questions are cleared up. County Commission Chairman Ralph Y. McClure said today he will not contract the county to anything until these more vital questions are answered. The bond issue was approved by voters Dec. 16 as part of the financing of the $16.1 million concert hall and theater complex, but certain legal questions are unresolved. For example, the County Attorneys Office is still studying a legal dilemma: Can a public building (the concert hall) be built on property not owned by the public? The county currently holds a EX I a EDITORIAL Freedom of the Press Philadelphia Pa. Evening , Sunday Bulletin Is the relinquishment of. . . the liberty of the press necessary for your liberty? Will the abandonment of your most sacred rights tend to anyone's security? Liberty . . . give us that precious jewel and you may take everything else. Patrick Henry Our country was born in a time of crisis. We have lived through dangerously troubled times throughout our history. The men who signed the Declaration of Independence knew the heavy responsibilities that came with independence. Each one was aware Of the dangers and the Bicentennial year. In 1971, Congress acted to elimihardships that lay ahead, as they signed. nate the tax by dropping it one Democracy has never been, and never will be, an a until 1, percent year January form of government to live under, because it is a 1982. The tax had stood at 10 easy percent for almost 20 years prior to government of the people. the congressional action. Democracy itself is a fragile plant which must be The original Federal Excise Tax well rooted in public understanding and confidence if it on telephone service was adopted is to survive. As Winston Churchill observed, as a temporary measure during World War I. democracy as a form of government has many The cut to six percent will save weaknesses but still it is better than anything else. A the nations phone company cus- free press is indispensable to a democratic society. tomers about $250 million. But And in the end, we cannot avoid the conclusion that Uncle Sam. will still collect $1.75 billion from the levy in 1976. (continued on page 2) |