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Show Editorial Editorial Comment Lets make U.So Highway 89 safe To many, U.S. Highway 89 from Farmington north into Weber County is a second freeway. And to an g number of many others, its a thoroughfare that must be crossed to get to school, shopping or church. That means having to traverse the busy highway going east or west or trying to join the flow of traffic for a trip north or south. ever-growin- Its not always easy or pleasant especially during rush hour on a foggy or snowy winter day, to think of an extreme. It would seem like something must be done for area residents unless their quality of life is to slowly, but surely deteriorate at least when it comes to leaving the house. Maybe that sounds harsh, but we all have either personally experienced or at least watched the traffic congestion in Los Angeles, New York or even on Salt Lakes 21st South. It doesnt seem like we can have our cake and eat it too when it comes to U.S. 89. At least not much longer. The Davis County Council of Governments has endorsed the strategic spacing of traffic lights on Highway 89. Theyd like to see construction of at least four freeway-typ- e interbut at a million from to $20 $50 , the price tag ranging changes, TO EDITOR Attention Clipper and readers: We are anxious to publish Letters To The Editor in this newspaper, but all letters submitted to the editor for publication must be signed. If, however, there is a justifiable reason for having the name withheld, this ma be done. But the letter must still be signed and the author's name will be used unless otherwise specified. It will be the discretion of the Clipper and management to withhold publication of any letter. Reflex-Journ- Reflex-Journ- Response to 500 South Thank you for inviting comment on the postponed 500 South widening project. The article which appeared in your Sept. 9 issue had the seeds of the dissent right in it. For example, it is at best a sloppy easement contract that needs to be rewritten because owners arent sure that they will retain ownership. If I were a property owner involved, even though I might agree with the project purpose, if offered a poor contractual document I wouldnt sign it. If the city is so committee to making things (the street) right, then they should start at the beginning with the parts. Everyone wants something for nothing, and that is exactly w hat Bountiful City has in mind. The city wants the use of those seven foot strips and they want the owners to continue to pay taxes on them; they dont want to buy them. This is intriguing when having your cake and eating it too is supposed to be impossible. I doubt that We have done everything possible, as Mr. two Hardy is quoted. And the nebulous terminology a few, 70 or 80, and more than 80... causes more or three, doubt. I should think the City Manager would know exactly how many properties are involved and exactly how many were for and how many were against the project. Or are such figures not quite in line with what is desirable to report? And why isnt the Clipper digging out this information? Nor is the City Manager very complete in his statement about special improvement districts; he left out that such must be put to a vote. In light of the above, I think all the cards ought to be put on the table so that we all are fully informed. Jack C. Billings Ask parents for help Letter to the Editor: Recently I moved to Utah with the impression that the level of public education in this state was superior. However, after living here fora short time, and after observing the public school system in operation, I am certainly not impressed. We are fortunate to have dedicated teachers who give their best to help our children learn. So the problem, in my view, lies not with the individual teachers or schools, but rather with the administrations of both state and local school districts, and their apparent lack of concern and support to our teachers. We are able to enjoy Free education. It is free because it allows us the opportunity to help make the decisions which will affect the future of our children. This freedom enables us to express our ideas and opinions, knowing that they will be heard and honestly considered. With this freedom I voice my feelings as a very concerned parent about an issue that has come to my attention. As I understand it, our teachers can no longer request items directly from the parents; things such as paper sacks, and paper books plates, stickers, popsicle sticks, yes, and even money for things that which can be ordered through school book clubs. will add so very much to the quality of education and at little cost, if any. Egg cartons, for example, are valuable in the classroom, but because our teachers cannot ask us for them, they are thrown away. When these items are needed by the students to help them in their school activities, the teacher must ask the local PTA to solicit the parents to donate them. The teachers know exactly what materials they need. They should be permitted to ask the parents directly for them. Perhaps our school district and state offices would like to try functioning without some necessities such as pencils, paper When these items were clips, staples, or envelopes and paper. it solicit really needed, our administrators found manditory to to obtain them. of other organizations citizens local by way nor such not inconveniences, would appreciate certainly They would they allow this to occur. Why, then do they impose such arbitrary restrictions upon our teachers? I am aware that funding for education in this state is extremely limited. Consequently, our school district administrators should welcome materials given from parents without making it so difficult. Their regulations are totally senseless and waste much time as well as cause confusion. 1 feel that these restricy tions must be removed in order for our teachers to more who other are there teach our children. Perhaps parents share these same concerns. 1 would encourage you to express your wishes to those who can and will make the necessary chanesMarili Nielsen Farmington, Utah . . effec-.tivel- - 1 and off the highway. Traffic lights will facilitate traffic flow. They wont necessarily bring a reduction in accidents, as some may have hoped.. There shouldnt be as many broadside collisions brought on by unaided attempts to cross the highway. But as Mr. Kennison says, Highway 89 is not in the heart of a city, as it is in Ogden, and so speeds will still be relatively high. Accidents will likely still be at fairly high impact as well. Even if city and county officials, not to mention area residents, hadnt expressed concern that some remedy be found, there would be changes in the offing. UDOT is mandated by federal traffic count requirements to place street lights when those magic numbers are reached. east-we- st That number is close for Farmingtons Shepard Lane. If conditions were different, lights likely would already dot the landscape at the Farmington Junction and Highway 193 where it intersects U.S. 89 southeast of Hill Field. Thanks to geography, including some steep hills and curves, no one has ever proposed that, Mr. Kennison says, and he gets some requests. Changes are coming. In fact, theyre imminent. In the interest of safety and more convenience for area residents, the Davis County Clipper and Davis endorse the arrival of traffic lights. Reflex-Journ- Yes, we wish it al could be interchanges, although there are drawbacks there, too. Some natural beauty is lost and limited access always hurts some. Then too, itd be easy to wish for bygone days when traffic was lighter and no one had to think such thoughts as traffic lights or interchanges. But then, were all in this together. Davis County is a favored place to live for more and more people. Lets make the best of it. And the safest of it. Vote in favor of Proposition No. 1 Letters . astute group realize thats not in the cards. By the same token, the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), hasnt been left with its engine idling helplessly on a side road, either. As UDOT District Traffic Engineer David Kennison indicated, officials are well aware of whats happening and have already been making some adjustments to east traffic flow and make it easier for motorists to get on Following is a brief explanation and pros and cons of Proposition No. which will appear on the General Election ballot in November: 1 EXEMPTION PROPOSITION NO. 1 HOSPITALS AND NURSING HOMES OF NON-PROFI- T Proposition would amend the State Constitution by specifically exempting nonprofit hospitals and nursing homes from the property tax. In recent years, several counties have attempted to place such properties on the tax rolls. As a result, the legal status of these properties has been in question. 1 The Utah State Tax Commission has issued a regulation which allows nonprofit hospitals and nursing homes to apply for a property tax exemption with their county board of equalization for the 1986 tax year. All proceedings on these applications are to be held in abeyance until after the 1986 general elections. After the results of the election on Proposition are known, hearings on these tax exemption applications may be held. If Proposition is approved by the electorate in November, it would have retrospective operation for the taxable years beginning January 1, 1986. In such event, the 1986 property tax exemption hearings would be held in the spring of 1987 at the same time that the 1987 hearings are held. Arguments for Proposition 1 r Advocates of Proposition 1 argue that the amendment is needed for the following reasons: 1. If nonprofit hospitals are required to pay property taxes, hospital costs in Utah would be increased. It is estimated that room rates would rise by as much as $10 per day. 1 1 2. This would result in a special tax on the sick, the elderly, and the poor. These are the groups that would be least likely to afford it. 3. Nonprofit hospitals provide millions of dollars of charity health care each year. Taxing nonprofits would reduce the amount of charity health care that could be provided and result in increased costs to governments. Nonprofit hospitals exist only to serve the community. 4. Nonprofit hospitals and nursing homes have always been tax exempt in Utah. This amendment would merely clarify what always has been the practice in the state. No new exemptions would be created. 5. Unless the amendment is passed, legal questions will be raised which will take years to decide. This would result in substantial legal expenses and increased costs to patients. Opponents of Proposition Arguments Against Proposition 1 1 list the following arguments against the proposed amendment: . It is unnecessary. It would change a system that is working well and need not be revised. 2. To be exempt, a hospital should prove that it is a charitable institution and demonstrate that it deserves the tax exemption. 3. Hospital costs will not increase if the proposition is defeated. Nonprofit hospitals charge what people will pay, not necessarily what the service costs them. 4. There is little difference between the services provided by hospitals. This amendnonprofit hospitals and investor-owne- d ment, however, would automatically provide a tax exemption to the nonprofits without regard to their charitable efforts. is too vague and could allow hospitals to 5. Proposition avoid taxes unfairly. 1 1 Tax Reform Act has sweeping changes The Tax Reform Act of 1986 will be the most sweeping reform to ever hit the United States tax system, according to Hank Brock, president of Brock & Associates, the largest financial planning firm in Salt Lake City. Brock, a Chartered Financial Consultant and Certified Public Accountant, said the tax bill will most likely be signed into law the by President Reagan within the next couple of weeks House and Senate passed the bill last week. He also said it will affect consumers in the following areas: tax brackets, Individual Retirement Accounts, interest deductions, exemptions, tax shelters, capital gains, real estate, and business deductions. According to Brock, most reform rules will become effective Jan. 1, 1987 and will be phased in through 1989. A few rules, however, will be effective at different times as specified by Congress. The entire effect of tax reform wont be felt for years, said Brock. Brock says the new law will create three new tax brackets: a 15 percent bracket on taxable income up to approximately $27,000 and a 28 percent tax bracket over that amount. He noted that a surcharge will be levied against those people earning more than $71,000 per year, creating a third bracket of 33 percent. Individual retirement account deductions will not be allowed if married taxpayers have adjusted gross income of more than $50,000 ($35,000 for single filers) and are participants in employer sponsored retirement plans. All interest deductions will be repealed, except for mortgage interest on 1st and 2nd homes and 2nd mortgages used to improve homes and pay for medical and college expenses. Brock did point out that 2nd mortgage interest is not deductible if the loan is used for consumer goods, autos and related purchases. Brock said all exemptions per dependent will be raised to $2,000. A family of four will have $8,000 of income exempted from tax, said Brock. However, exemptions for the blind and those over the age of 65 will be done away with. Tax shelters to offset passive income, that is income earned from dividends or interest income, will be cut. However, middle income taxpayers will still be able to deduct up to $25,000 of fee-base- d A thanks for tribute Dear Mr. Blodgett. May I take a moment of your time to express my sincere thanks for your kind tributes paid to my wife Carma following her death. Carma enjoyed writing for the Clipper and often spoke highly of you and your efforts to help in her cause for Afghanistan, and not the least of which was her concern matters of local issue for the young people of Bountiful. I wholeheartedly endorse your suggestion of a summer concert to honor the musical talents of the youth of Bountiful and offer my support in whatever way I can. It seems all too often we take the service and talents of individuals within our community for granted and fail to recognize those who are of so much help to us in making Bountiful a great place to live. do for us as in promotThank you and the Clipper f - "h its people. and fine our ing city Yours Truly, Alan Bradshaw losses from real estate if they are active in management of the property. The result of which will make limited partnerships more economically oriented with greater emphasis on cash flows. The current 60 percent exclusion for capital gains on investments held more than six months will be lost. All investment income will be treated as ordinary income. According to Brock, other areas affected by tax reform include real estate depreciation and other business deductions. Tax reform isnt going to stop the world from rotating, said Brock. The government just changed the rule book and were playing with new rules. Once we learn the new rules the game will seem simple again. In comparison Legislative load is light Although it may not appear so during the hectic days of a legislative session, the workload of the Utah Legislature is considerably below that of most other states. This was the conclusion reached by Utah Foundation, the private research organization, in a study of Utah's legislative workload. According to the study, a total of 1,571 bills were introduced in the Utah Legislature during the three-yea- r period 1983 in the the 48th 50 1985. Utah states ranked among through number of separate bills considered, and was well below the U.S. average of 5,970 per state. During this period. 298.485 bills were considered by all state legislative sessions in the 50 states with the number ranging from a high of 48,694 in New York to a low of 1,459 in Kentucky. The size of the state, of course, is an important factor in determining the number of matters brought before the legislative body for consideration. Generally, more legislative measures are introduced in those states having large populations than in states with small populations. Foundation analysts point out that a total of 677 bills were period. This was well below passed in Utah during the 1983-8the average of 1,407 bills per state. Utah ranked 41st among the 50 states in the number of new laws enacted. Although Utah is below average in the number of bills that are introduced and enacted into law', it is much better than average in the percentage of bills introduced that are passed. During the 1983-8- 5 period, approximately 43.1 of the bills introduced in Utah were enacted into law. Nationally, the survival rate of proposed legislation averaged 23.6, and this ranged all the way from a high of 60.7 Arkansas to a low of 6.3 in New York. Prior to 1985, the Utah Legislature met in a y regular session during years and in a y budget session during years. Following approval of a constitutional amendment in 1984, this format was replaced with a general session in each year beginning with 1985. The Foundation study indicates that the new system has tended to even out the legislative workload and enabled the Legislature to get more work accomplished. 5 50-sta- te 60-da- 20-da- even-number- 45-da- y |
