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Show THE ZEPHYRTANUARY-FEBRUAR- FACT Associated Press reports that a group in Price, saying it represents the interests of the rural eastern counties, is circulating a petition to secede from the state of Utah. Gerald Lloyd is the leader of the effort, and says that so far, he and his supporters have gathered 200 signatures, mostly from residents of Green River, who want Utahns from Daggett down to San Juan to join together in forming a new state. Supporters of the concept say Utah has shown a lack of concern for the economic development of the rural areas, and that mineral deposits, especially coal, are being rapidly PAGE 5 1993 Y WestLight Photography 750 SOUTH MAIN depleted The goal, says Lloyd, is to have the state legislature pass a resolution this winter allowing for an audit of revenues and expenditures from the area, and authorizing money to study the feasibility of the new state, which could be named Fremont. Lloyd adds that the state legislature and the federal government would be petitioned for statehood in 1994, and three years later, western Colorado counties would be invited to join. Lloyd also says that so far, there hasn't been much response from most of the counties. OPINION There are of course a number erf good, solid reasons for seceding from the state of Utah, most of them having to do with gambling and drink, or the lack of it And it would be fun to watch upstate political figures react to a serious effort to dump the beehive and pick up the prickly pear as state flower. But aside from the fun, the proposal also looks at a serious question, economic development. Throughout rural Utah, including what Grand County economic development director Bette Stanton continually refers to as remote Utah, there is a high level of bitterness toward the Wasatch Front for what is perceived to be a dismissal erf economic development plans. And it is coupled with a contention that the smaller populations of Grand, San Juan, Kane, and other counties are ignored. If only we could break out erf that trap... But the truth is, if we broke out of that trap of Utah, we would fund our own schools. We already do, through property tax. But about 80 percent of the school budget comes from upstate. For the city of Moab, to make up that difference, we would have to charge each adult and child about $1,200 dollars. And for the county government? Well, about 85 percent of its budget is paid for by state and federal funds. Hundreds of Moab residents receive social services. We'd hire our own staff, build our own buildings, come up with our own welfare system. We'd have to build a state prison, of course, and our own health department. You wouldn't go to Sam Taylor and the Department of Transportation to fix the Interstate or Highway 191, or the River Road; you'd pay for it yourself. You'd need occupational health and safety inspectors, and your own I lighway Patrol, and erf course, your own state university. We could raise some of that money down here. We could impose our own sales tax, our own state income tax, and various other state assessments. And maybe, putting it all together, we could come up with, possibly, half of what the state now pays for. Let's faoe it. We take more from the state, more from the federal government, than we ever pay in, with all the assorted taxes they impose. Rural areas across the country have always gotten a free ride from the urban areas, despite all the complaints about the mean and arrogant Wasatch Front and Washington politicians. They may be wasting money left and right, but they're wasting a lot of it right here. There are 6,000 people in Grand County, about one quarter of one percent of the state's population. There are more than that in one West Valley City neighborhood. Rural areas get more in aid, and there are good reasons. Smaller population bases mean higher per person costs. And we should be glad we have a big population base up north that can share the burden with us. Sign a petition to secede because you want to mess with the heads of some upstate clowns. Sign it because you want to be able to bet 10 bucks on Lucky Louise in the seventh. Sign it because requiring a membership to walk into a bar and order a bourbon on the rocks is silly. But stay away from the whining about the poor little people of the countryside, abused and stepped on. It's pretty stale by now. OUR BEST TO EVERYONE IN 1993 SAME DAY SERVICE IN by 10 AM BACK by 4 PM Color processing 35 mm - C 41 process 1351 20 I (south side of Miller's Shopping Center) 259-79- 43 P Flannels Coats Sweaters Insulated Wear 259-642- 9 Wrangler Meet Our Real Estate Team ALL-AMERIC- Doug McElhaney owner Norma Nunn 259-687- 8 259-727- 5 AN Julie Bierschied 259-567Mike Steele 259-65John Sensenbrenner Joe D. Bierschied 259-560 43 AGENCY 505 No. Main 259-649- 3 "Moab's Oldest Real Estate Agency" 259-890- Lola McElhaney 259-435- 8 70 6 HAPPY NEW YEAR |