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Show WEEKLY REFLEX-DA- TV LEADER, FEBRUARY NEWS JOURNAL, VIS 4, 1982 Personality Reminisces Adjustments Property Inequities Hi By GARY R. BLODGETT TELEVISION today is only in its late infancy ; it hasnt even reached the teen-ag- e of life," she said. There are new horizons at KSL and all television stations that were not even dreams a few years ago." Jackie is a radio and TV personality. In addition to her work with Romper Room, she is popular as coauthor of Channel 5 Eyewitness News, and as hostess and producer of Midday. BOUNTIFUL Jackie Nokes has been associated with KSL Television for a quarter of a century, and many changes have taken place, she told a recent gathering of the Bountiful Area Chamber of Commerce. n SPEAKING AT a noon luncheon at the Servus Drug, Ms. Nokes said she remembers vividly her first experiences at 'he 1 V station. "1 was a pioneer of television in this area and can remember well when we first went on the air, she said. "We came on with too much power and blew out nearly evradious of ery set in a Salt Lake City. It was fortunate there were not more TV sets in the area because I think we blew every set that was turned on." J CKIE BEGAN her careei "Romper Room. When auditioned for the the humor and antics they wanted, so I just went along with the act," she said. After getting the job, my first day was terrible and things didn't get much better for a long time." job, I I couldnt believe SHE NOTED that everything was televised live and According to the Foundation report, in 1980 the county variations from the statewide average ranged from 66.5 percent to percent and averaged about 41.4 percent among the 29 counties. Following application of the adjustments, the 1981 variations from the statewide average ranged from 46.3 percent to -- plus-50.- PRESENTLY SHE is hostess of the interview program, Faces, and serves as assistant to the president of KSL in charge of Educational LAST YEAR, the State Tax Commission ordered adjustments in local property assessments that range from 1 percent to plus-20- 0 percent. The 1981 Utah Legislature, however, refused to go along with the large increases, and directed the Tax Commission to reduce the adjusted local assessments by 20 percent. In effect, this action finally resulted in adjustments ranging from 21 percent to plus-14- 0 percent. -- Ser- vices. She is a native of Salt Lake City but moved to Los Angeles where she graduated from high school. She attended the Un- iversity of California-Lo- s Angeles (UCLA) from 1946 through 1949. She then returned to Utah and attended the University of Utah earning a degree in Elementary Education and Home Economics. IN ADDITION -- percent and FARMINGTON cipation of has also taught school and was a service representative for there were many bloopers. even forgot the Pledge of once," she said. Jackie related the early Jackie said she has had many enjoyable experiences with Alle-gien- times of television broadcasting when hot banks of lights would topple the actors like flies. Once the studio lights exploded, but we still wen, on with the show, almost without hitch." ANOTHER TIME the drapes in the studio caught fire, but the fire station was close by and we escaped without too much damage." County Commission last week accepted bids for $5,000,000 in Company. But aside from the hectic and frustrating moments, her and many associates. WE DO A lot of fun things and have the opportunity to meet people of all walks of life, said Jackie. Then with a sparkle in her eye, she told Chamber members that the future of television is more promising than ever before. In anti- shortfalls, the Davis Mountain State Telephone I Senior Citizens Plan Excursion By KATHRYN JENNINGS THE GOLDEN Years Center will sponsor this trip but those in any part of the county may like to join the group which will go by bus. Friends of the elderly might enjoy this unusual trip for the day. The bus will leave the Golden Years Center about 10 a.m. on Feb. 1 and return during the late afternoon. Those in the north part of the county could be picked up at the Kaysville and Clearfield centers. There is going to be a trip to Hardware Ranch with a bobsled ride through the elk herds which the State Division of Fish and Wildlife feed during the severe winters. 1 40 Years Public Service rhard T By MARK D. MICKELSEN FARMINGTON After 40 years of public service in Utah and Idaho, Ernest Eberhard Jr. is retiring. THE HARDWARE Ranch is north of Hyrum and then to MR. EBERHARD has Jen actively involved in the LDS Church and is a past president of LDS missions in Salt Lake City, Oregon and Idaho. telephone The commissioner said he decided to pull himself out of the November election now so interview Wednesday. THE Davis County Commission chairman told reporters last week that he will not seek to the commission in November. Com. Eberhard, a Centerville resident, cited his health and age as two contributing Blacksmith Fork Canyon. There will be a box lunch , factors to his not running for Ive political office again. served 40 years in all kinds of public capacities and I think its time to stop, he said in a THE COMMISSIONER served two terms as mayor of Preston, Ida. before coming to Utah where he was elected to the Davis County Commission in 1978. He was appointed commission chairman in 1981 following the defeat of colleagues Glenn Flint and Morris Swapp. He was reappointed chairman in 1982 by Com. Harry Gerlach and Glen Saunders. Cable TV that prospective candidates will have a chance to file early. Candidates may file for commission positions beginning March 25. ASKED ABOUT his plans for retirement. Com. Eberhard said, I dont have any. He did say he wants to do a little vacationing." Mr. Eberhard's term of office expires at the end of 1982. aver- aged only 10.1 percent. IT WAS noted that in 1980 Davis County had an average assessment ration of 9.59 percent, which was 28.5 percent less than the state average. The latest study shows that Davis County had a 1981 average assessment ratio of 14.18 percent which was 2.3 percent less than the state average. Although it is clear that the Tax Commission and legisla tive action to require county assessors to adjust local valuations did substantially reduce the assessment inequities that previously existed among counties, it did not completely eliminate them. In order to obtain approval of the factoring adjustments, some compromises were made. The next major Tax Commission order to factor or adjust local valuations will occur at the end of 1982 and will affect 1983 assessments. THE FOUNDATION report also notes that the Tax Commission adjustments will do little to correct assessment inequities within counties. The 1981 legislation places most of the responsibility for providing equity within coontiefr-o- a local assessors. While some of the larger counties are well Accept Tax Notes to her career in radio and television, Jackie JACKIE NOKES 6 -- plus-12.- 7 SHE EXPLAINED that the general area of the early television days ranged from Spanish Fork on the south to Clearfield on the north except for the Bountiful area where reception was ml. KSL Radio, at the same time, was well established, being the first commercial station west of the Mississippi River. It got its start in 1922. in television in 1957 after being chosen from among 350 applicants for a job as the star of Assesment adjustments ordered by the State Tax Commission last year have greatly reduced the assessment variations that exist among the several counties of the state. This was pointed out by Utah Foundation, the private tax research organization, in their analysis of a recent Tax Commission sales ratio study. , 'served and the total price is $14.50 which includes the bus fare and lunch. Call the center to make reservations, 295-347- The Centers will be closed Feb. 15 for Presidents Day. Tax consultants will be at the Golden Years Center each Thursday beginning Feb. 4, but you must make an appointment for this help. The monthly luncheon will be Feb. 18 with Madelynn Thomson in charge of table decorations. THERE ARE apartments still available at The Meadows in Bountiful. These apartments will be ready for occupancy about the middle of March, if interested call the Center. tax anticipation notes. OF ONLY two bids ceived, the Davis County Bank submitted the lowest interest rate on the notes, at 10.8 percent. Zions National Bank bid 11.25 percent. Money from tax anticipation notes is used to cover countywide operations until the end con-tiu- inequity between locally-assesse- d real property and other property classes. ACCORDING to the study, the overall assessment level of d all property in Utah during 1981 was 14.5 percent. This is up somewhat from the 13.41 percent recorded for 1980, but still is below the theoretically level of 16 percent provided for by law. If all local property had been assessed at 16 percent, it locally-assesse- of the year when tax money re- staffed for the assessing procedure, most of the smaller counties in the state do not have the e finances and facilities to to reappraise individual properties on a continuous basis. As a resit, equalization of property within counties could suffer in the years ahead . Another problem noted in the Foundation report is that when the Utah Legislature reduced adjusted local valuations by 20 percent, it, in effect, lowered the assessment level of such property from 20 to 16 percent of market value. State assessed property, on the other hand, continues to be assessed at 20 percent of determined value. Thus, the legislative change introduced a new is collected and disbursed. THE COMMISSION accepted the Davis County Bank bid Tuesday afternoon and authorized officials to sign a contract with the bank for $5,000,000. The money will be repaid at 10.8 percent, mdm would have increased the assessment base by an estimated $398 million. Property Tax Arguments Challenged By Officials Continued from page The mayor said the appraiser is willing to go to court to verify the figure. 1 THE CHARGES raised by Mr. Town-le- y this past fall were not new, he added, ...this same issue surfaced in January, 1979. Former Mayor Townley , who by coincidence happened to be in the audience Tuesday night, told Mr. Hannan that some of the facts presented disturb me. HE SAID Mr. Hannans mentioh of util- ity fees and other cost factors has nothing to do with assessed valuation the issue Clearfield officials complained about in the first place. Mr. Townley reiterated that a private appraiser hired by the city came up with a total appraisal of at least $75 million. HE EMPHASIZED that the assessed value of the center should be $200 million, but is currently only $5 million on the coun- ty tax records. What Im doing is pursuing what 1 think is an honest appraisal, the former mayor told Hannah.'- ,,I u s(j ,w i.rumri irv CLEARFIELDS new mayor, Neldon Hamblin, said the council will look at the data presented and decide what action should be taken. It appears," he said, that some observations will have to be made in terms of the utilities. Picture Deadline Thursday 6:00 PM ERNEST EBERHARD JR. Complaints In Layton LAYTON - Will cable TV ever come to Layton? is a question asked by many Layton people who have been contacted by Wasatch THE DESIRE to know "whats happening" prompted Layton resident John Grossickle to write a letter to Layton Mayor Lewis G. Shields. Mayor Shields contacted Tim Magness of Wasatch Community TV and was reassured by him that within two weeks, cable TV would be in in Mobile Homes Com- munity TV about subscribing to this service. operation Reappraisal Set For some parts of Layton. ACCORDING to Mr. Magness the cable laying process is nearly 100 percent completed. Some underground connections will have to wait until the ground thaws out. Overhead service can begin as soon as Utah Power and Light furnishes the electricity to operate the system. Some people wonder why those living in the mobile home parks by Hill Air Force Base already have cable TV. Star West Communications has a limited franchise to service these people. The receiver of the TV signal in these aicas is a large dish instead of a laid cable system, dmg Odd And Strange ( Teacher Can you tell me the name of any animal peculiar to Australia. Boy the Rhinoceros, sir. Teacher Wong. That's not found in Australia. Boy Well, sir, thats why it would be peculiar. ex-m.- uj The personal property division of the State Tax Commission has completed a sales ration study in 1981 which indicates that the appraisal data used in the past does not reflect the present market value for mobile homes. IN 1975 AND 1981, residences and commercial properties were reappraised and are now reasonably close to present fair market value. The reappraisal of mobile homes will bring them more nearly to their present fair market value. The cost of new mobile homes has increased during the past years of inflation and the resale value of used mobile homes has also reflected the inflation spiral. A TYPICAL example of this is a 1972 Kit, 24x52. In 1981, this mobile home was taxed on a market value of $7,750. Under the reappraisal schedule, the 1982 value is $12,750. An example of a 1973 Flamingo, 12x56 has a 1981 value of $4,750. This value goes to $6,050 in 1982. This dicates that double-wid- in- e mobile homes retain their value better than single wides in the market place. Statements' for 1982 taxes for mobile homes will be mailed during January 1982. Dates of appeal for values posted will be on the statement and should be made to the county board of equalization if you disagree with the value. The present market value will equal five times the assessed . value on your individual No Tail Increase... Alternatives Needed for paramedic service. Of that, approximately $309,000 is used for salaries, $69,000 for equipment. By MARK D. MICKELSEN FARMINGTON A yes vote in the March 2 paramedic referendum wont necessarily mean an increase in taxes in Davis County residents, according to Sheriff Brant Johnson. IN 1986, using a ten percent inflation $462,730, Sheriff Johnson said. The costs represent .80 mills, far less than the 1 .5 mill limit proposed in the referendum. If the referendum passes, the county commission will have the power to determine the mill levy on a basis. Members of that board say they may want to hold another referendum periodically to determine the mill levy ceiling. THE SHERIFF, whose office has administered the program since 1977, said Wednesday passage of the referendum will allow officials to fund the paramedics through a special taxing district, rather than with money from the county general fund. As a result, the sheriff's department will continue to operate the program, but there will be a shift in funding. Instead of the county picking up the tab at $350,000-$400,00- 0 a year and draining the general fund the paramedics will be handled account. through a year-to-ye- ACCORDING to Sheriff Johnson, the existing paramedic budget includes $69,000 for vehicle expenses and allows for the replacement of trucks on a basis. He said the average paramedic vehicle must be replaced every year. Most run 100,000 miles each year. Paramedic training, on the other hand, requires far less funding. In 1982 the total is $6,600, but Sheriff Johnson said that amoung will decrease as more and more officers are trained. year-to-ye- IN ADDITION, the sheriff s department budget will be cut by $350,000 money that was previously allocated by the county, through the general fund, for paramedic service. In short, the March vote represents a bookkeeping change. Sheriff Johnson emphasized that by shifting funds, some stability will be added to the paramedic program. Program operators will no longer have to worry about the service being cut because it is not consi- dered a mandated ar ASKED IF he sees a need for increased manpower over the next five years, the sheriff was pessimistic. I dont see any increase because you have two vehicles on the road 24 hours a day, seven dass a week, he said. Currently, there are 20 workers on the paramedic team. Well be training two or three every year to keep the compliment at 2 men, the sheriff said. HE SAID the teams response time is program by the county. ALTHOUGH ballots for the March 2 referendum say up to 1.5 mills can be set aside for the program, the sheriff said projected costs through 1986 total less than one mill per year. In 1982, it will cost the county .$379, 000 fac- tor and a five percent growth factor, the overall cost of the program will be 20-2- . Continued on page 3 By TOM BUSSELBERG FARMINGTON Taking funding and operational control for the paramedics out of the SherifF s office could mean more expense for the average taxpayer. KEEPING THE program where it is will mean merely a transfer of funds rather an an actual tax increase, County Com. Harry Gerlach says. Currently, two paramedics vehicles serve the county with units assigned to each end. Personnel are trained as paramedics and serve double duty as Sheriffs deputies when not needed for medical emergencies. Were the March 2 election asking voters to approve a separate (but not additional) mill levy to fail, two alternatives, other than elimination of the service entirely, are available. control would involve separate cities working to form a service, such as is done by Provo and Orem. Each city would need one vehicle and 11 or 12 men to operate it 24 hours a day and provide necessary backup for vacations, or burnout, Com. Gerlach explained. That would total $406,199 for accessories, training and the paramedic staffing. An interlocal agreement could include all the cities in the north or south sharing the cost but would mean various cities would have to add that cost to the city tax mill levies. FEE FOR service could be tried, as well, and has been in use in Weber Cojunty with a low level of success. A spokesperson in the county auditors office, there, says only about 25 percent return on billing is being received. Voters there will have the chance to authorize a separate countywide mill levy on March 2, as well. INTERLOCAL agreements were first INTER-LOCA- L sic-ne- used in 1974 in both Salt Lake County and Weber County when private ambulance firms offered the service. It would be impossible in Davis County to utilize ambulance services to any degree because of the volunteer status in south county, Com. Gerlach said. Many of our present ambulance services are made up of very dedicated people. But if they were ever to assume paramedics it would mean e taking six months training and virtually living at Weber State College for that period. UNDER A system such as Weber County has used, individuals would pay for services provided in two steps, explained Jan Buttrey, Wasatch Front regional coordinator for the Bureau of Emergency Medical Services. The d fee schedule includes $30 minimum for the transportation and response by ambulance and that could total up to $100 depending on what type of additional services are needed, such as life support. In addition, $82 a call maximum is set by the state for ambulance plus $5 a mile, as set Jan. 5, she said. WEBER COUNTY residents often arent aware their insurance may pay for paramedics, although rates must be adjusted. Com. Gerlach says either way takes work to make them operational with the present county setup under the Sheriffs office the most economical. BY PUTTING a separate mill levy in force for the program, under a mill about eight tenths percent would be necessary to operate unless the county experienced phenominal growth, he added. Except for Salt Lake and Weber counties, other areas of the state enjoy limited or no paramedic service. In Utah County, pa- full-tim- two-tiere- , Continued on page 3 r |