OCR Text |
Show Ben Lomond Beacon, Dec. 29, 1977, Page 2 im war El Letter to the Editor imL Dear Editor: : OUR INVENTORY Il(ffu5)!l 'LMjUGJiLiKME center rVu'0D Save QDgdfg SALGU! One of the most unfortunate acts of the 95th Congress was legislating an increase in minimum wages. Despite maximum efforts by your NFIB team in Washington, we g simply were not able to overcome the high pressure, tactics of organized labor and their allies. Although NFIB is terribly disappointed with the overall Congressional voting on the minimum wage bill, small business did have several heroes who fought hard. One of these is your Senator, Jake Garn. Senator Garn was one of the leaders in the specific attempt to increase the exemption for small businesses from a gross of $250,000 to $500,000 for retail and service firms with additional increases in succeeding years. A complicated parliamentary maneuver by our opponents kept this effort from begin successful. Under the new law, the minimum wage will increase from $2.30 to $2.65 hourly this January 1. The minimum wage will then increase to $2.90 on January 1, 1979, $3.10 on January 1, 1980, and $3.35 on January 1, 1981. Further those employers now entitled to use a tip credit will see the amount allowable reduced from 50 percent to 45 percent in 1979 and to 40 percent in 1980. We did have a qualified success in increasing the size of the small business exemption limits which apply to retail and many service businesses from $250,000 in annual sales to $275,000 on July 1, 1978, to $325,000 on July 1, 1980, and to $362,500 on December 31, 1981. This was not a complete success because we had been able to obtain an immediate increase to $500,000 in the House. Unfortunately, the conference committee adopted the lower levels which were provided in the Senate bill. We are proud that Senator Garn resisted the pressures to support the terrible provisions of this bill and helped lead the effort to increase the small business exemption. Senator Garn has been a friend of small business and has received NFIBs Guardian of Small Business award. i u rJiGEDy rJiomy m 'DCaeoe 0C,k2Gpp Help needed in reporting crimes BY CAROL SHAW BEACON WRITER We are fortunate to live in a relatively peaceful community among good people. We are also lucky to have good, honest community officials, including dedicated police officers. But, we must not become complacent. We could do a great deal to help our law enforcement officials and insure keeping our families and property safe. North Ogden Police Chief Earl Carroll said many crimes go unsolved because no one reports them. Or suspicious actions go unreported because people are afraid it might turn out to be nothing. Especially in the case of juvenile offenders, often the best thing that can happen to them, for their own sakes, is to be caught and appropriately punished or reprimanded. Otherwise they develop the attitude that what they do doesnt matter. They say that in a democracy, people have the kind government they deserve. Let us remember that mercy cannot rob justice. , of State having trouble financing highways highway Utahs ability to finance its program is declining in relation to those of other states, according to Utah Foundation, the private, research organization. In total highway-use- r revenues, which finance state Utahs position in comparison with programs, highway other Mountain States and with the national average has decade, the Founchanged only slightly over the dation noted in a research report released this week. However, in terms of the amounts available for actual construction, maintenance, and administration of state highways, Utahs position has deteriorated. revenues doubled between Utahs total highway-use- r 1966 and 1976, a rate of increase slightly below the Mountain States average, but above the national average. But funds available for actual state highway programs increased only 50 percent in Utah over the decade, compared to an average 84 percent increase in the Mountain States and one of 75 percent in all of the United States. This situation is largely due to the fact that Utah has turned more of its highway revenues to law enforcement and to assisting local roads and streets, the Foundation points out. Between 1966 and 1976, the amount of highway user revenues allocated to law enforcement and safety grew more s faster than the than three and one-hatimes, a faster than the third and Mountain States for the average average for the nation. The funds for law enforcement here revenues referred to are those coming from highway-use- r only. Utahs Highway Patrol is financed entirely from highway-user revenues, but some other states may also use other sources of funds for highway law enforcement. Highway funds allocated to local roads and streets also increased much faster in Utah than in most other states. Utahs collector road program, one of two major state supports for local roads and streets came into existence in 1970 and was a major factor in the increase in this category. While a major reason for Utah's problem in funding its state highway program is the increasing amounts devoted to law enforcement and to local roads, it does not appeal feasible that funds for these purposes should be cut down. safety and local Actually, both the road programs are themselves in difficulty and appear to need more money than is available under present funding formulas, the Foundation report notes. Inflation has been a major factor in reducing the effectiveness of highway dollars, but inflation has been felt in every state. However, a comparison of highway funds available in 1976, in terms of 1966 dollars, indicated Utah e suffered impact with regard to its state program. non-prof- it 1966-197- 6 lf two-third- above-averag- The Ben Lomond Beacon is published each Thursday. Deadlines for each weeks issue is Monday at 5 p.m. We welcome all articles from those who wish to contribute. Business office is 5388 So. 1900 W., Roy, Utah Phone 825-1666- .- J. Howard Stahle Mrs. Bonnie Stahle Sue Ellen Sims Carol Shaw Publisher Advertising Manager Editor Correspondent |