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Show WEEKLY NEWS JOURNAL, NORTH DAVIS LEADER, FEBRUARY 4, 1981 REFLEX-DA- VIS OVER THE YEARS, for various reasons, property taxes have fluctuated By GARY R. BLODGETT Davis Countys ten largest communities can sigh with relief this year. Property taxes in all ten cities dipped below the 1979 level. Many Davis BUT BEFORE YOU lean back in the lounge chair counting your blessings for having low taxes, keep in mind that there is a drive on to have each of the state's 29 counties bringing them up to 20 percent of the 1978 assessed valuation. And Davis County is one of those counties that has not yet been reappraised. Taxes Drop This Year, But Waif Till Next Year When it is. theres no question that it will be higher than the present valuation from which county property taxes are based. tremendously. Bountiful, for example, had only 57.0 mills in 1950. This was increased to 85.85 mills ten years later and a near-hig- h 89.75 mills in 1970. In 1975, however, the mill levy total dropped to 60.16 and then steadily rose to 75.10 in 1979. The mill levy reduction this year stems largely from the lowering of county and city mill levies while most other levies remained about the same. Local school taxes, too, dropped about one-hamill while special district taxes showed the only increase, jumping from 5.51 mills to 7.59 mills. lf STUDY OF the total tax rate imposed that were not reappraised this year, the overall rate rose in 55 cities and declined in only 13 cities. The reports indicated that the average increase in these cities (including the ten Davis County communities) was 3.28 mills, from 69.58 to 72.86 mills. BOUNTIFUL, THE largest of the ten cities included in the report from the Utah research organiFoundation, a zation, shows a tax decrease this year of 2.49 mills. in- -' Bountifuls overall property tax eluding county, school district and special districts as well as the city mill levy was 73. 10 mills for 1980. This compares to 75.59 mills for the previous year. non-prof- it of the 68 reporting cities since 1950, according to the report. Three of the 29 counties were reappraised this year and were not included in the report. Of t e 26 remaining counties, all were lower than in 1979. the report noted. OF THE 35 school districts located in the 26 counties not affected by the reappraisal program this year, 23 increased their levy, seven lowered their levy and five had no change in the mill levy. The average increase in the 23 districts that boosted their mill levy, the average was 3.28 mills, for the most part offsetting a four-mireduction in the state's basic school levy as required by the 1979 Utah Legislature, the study explained. d OF THE 26 cities. 17 saw taxes increased, six were lowered and three remained unchanged. Of the 204 cities, 82 municipalities increased taxes, 16 reduced the mill levy, and 106 left the tax DAVIS COUNTY was last appraised in 1975 and is due for reappraisal in the next Centerville's 1980 tax levy is 7 .49 mills, compared to 73.86 mills a year ago. Other cities listed in the report, also in alphabetical order, are: county-impose- ll A in 68 major Utah cities of 1979. The latter mill levy was the lowest come is higher because in most instances during the past decade the increased valuation has offset the reduction in mill levies. levy unchanged. few years, according to the State Assessors Office. Park City has the lowest mill levy of the 68 cities included in the Utah Foundation report, 41.36 mills. This is a tremendous decline from the 1970 mill levy of 10.45 mills, and is considerably lower than the 89.44 mills assessed in 1979. CLEARFIELD, 77.77 mills (78.92): Farmington. 77.84 mills (79.94): Kaysville. 72.38 mills (73.98): Layton. 76.45 mills (77.49): North Salt Lake. 72.99 mills (75.38): Sunset. 77.30 mills (78.45): Syracuse. 66. 10 mills (67.25): and Woods C ross. 69.49 (71.86). The Utah Foundation report said the average mill rate of cities in Utah for 1980 was 72.86 mills. 1 But despite I980's increase, the study also noted that the overall tax rate in Utah has been reduced by approximately 15.88 but that total dollar in mills since 1970 RICHFIELD is close behind with 44.81 mills in 1980, a substantial drop from 72.10 mills in 1970 but higher than the 36. 12 mills Mainiagemeinii Cam Aid Farmers By TOM BUSSELBERG Take it KAYSVILLE g from a farmer: the business isn't what it used to be. life-lon- TODAY ITS big business, with many farmers investing hiore than $1 million for land, equipment and the like. LaVar Godfrey, who grew up in farm -- MJf ii, 4 1 A PRESIDENT S DAY RACE BOUNTIFUL The second annual President's Day Race which drew more than 400 entrants in its first outing is scheduled Monlast year day, Feb. 16, according to De-nn- is DeBoer, parade chairman. SPONSORED by the Davis County Clipper and Bountiful Area Chamber of Commerce, Syracuse Prepares Building Ordinance the racers will follow a route of 5,000 meters (3.1 miles) from downtown Bountiful to a point of about 1700 South and return. (A sketch of the route appears in todays Clipper). Participants are encouraged to register early to save money on the entrance fee as well as waiting time during regis istration. available weekdays until 6 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 14, at De Boer's Running Store, 167 South Main, Bountiful. cost is $4 and will include a T shirt. Registration on the day of the race, from 8 to 8:45 a.m., will be $6 which will also include a T shirt. SYARCUSE Feb. 12 has been set as the date for a public ACCORDING to Barber, the builder buys the booklet which he then, hopefully, will study. "Then he cant come back and say he didn't know about something." More "stringent" water regulations are also included in the booklet, he said. "A builder must be equipped to trade a half share of irrigation water plus ditch stock per acre for culinary water." IN A RELATED matter, the city heard a report given by John Thayne. Thayne discussed the feasibility of furnishing secondary water so "culinary water will go farther. One way of obtaining secondary water, he said, might be from buying treated water from the sewage plant, water that would meet "the 1982 EPA standards." Thayne also mentioned runoff irrigation water as another secondary source. All participants will be eligible to win prizes donated by Bountiful area merchants, said Mr. DeBoer. WINNERS OF each category will receive ribbons and the first place male and female winner, regardless of age or sex, will receive a trophy. Runners will be placed in categories according to age and sex. There will be groups of 1 1 years of age and under, 60 and over, and a division for wheelchair participants, in addition to several age groups in between, Mr. DeBoer explained. RUNNERS WILL gather at a point between Main and 100 East on 100 South on the south side of the LDS Bountiful Tabernacle. Starting time is 9 a.m. and runners not reg- istered by 8:45 a.m. will not be entered. k on Assembling at 100 South, the runners will go east to 100 E., north to Center, west on Center to Main, south on Main to 1500 South, south on 200 West to 1700 South, east to 75 East, north on 75 East to 1400 South, east on 1400 South to 100 East, and north on 100 East to Center Street and the finish line. mid-bloc- BOUNTIFUL police will direct runners along the route and spotters will be stationed at various points to aid runners in following the proper route. Mr. DeBoer said 300 to 500 runners are expected this year and its important that particifor the race pants to avoid confusion and perhaps a long wait for registration. He emphasized that only those who will be eligible for the drawing for prizes from local merchants. THE COURSE record is held by Phillip Petersen, of BYU and a resident of Phoenix, with a time of 15 minutes 45.5 seconds. The best womens time is 21 minutes 10.9 seconds held by Mary Jane Cannon of Salt Lake City, grb left the farm. Hes continued to operate a dry farm in that valley and taught vocational agriculture at Davis High School for 27 years. For the past three hes worked at the Davis Area Vocational Center and now oversees a growing program that could help farmers save money. KNOWN AS "Farm Busthe iness Management, course provides a firm backup service for the farmer, whether he be your after hours or weekend farmer or full time with a large-scal- e operation. "Farming is no longer a way of life. It's a business and it must be operated as a business. With the high capital in- its vestment imperative to stay on top of it, he says. COMPARED TO industry the worker investment is much higher (for a farmer)," Mr. Godfrey says, noting help is avilable in assessing net worth and determining cash flow through a program of computerized farm records. Its a more detailed accounting than ever before. We submit data to the computer center of Specialized Data Systems Inc. in Madison, Wise. Theyve developed a most sophisticated system. Theyre set up so they can do assets on 900 different crops." THAT GOES along with 140 types of livestock, as well, he says. Farmers spend three to four hours a month in accounting to prepare material for sub instructor." Twenty-si- x Davis County farmers, out of about 400. currently participate along with other farmers in Morgan. Weber and Summit counties. "One real need (for farmers) is evaluation and control of the business. That demonstrates to the lender a valid ability to pay back," he says, noting participants can receive financial data reports annually or on a monthly basis. The farmer keeps an account record with group meetings held once a month. That includes at least one scheduled visit per month by Mr. Godfrey to participating farms. THE FARMER gets a printout listing current expenditures, a cost breakdown of crops per acre and even household and personal expense breakdown if desired. For instance, a report breaking down average cost per head for each lot is available on a "feeder log sheet" while another covers income, cost and inventory for livestock. The dairy report lists dairy products sold, used in the home, milk fed to livestock., net increases from sales or transfers and even goes into feed quantities and value. Labor and other cost could also be calculated. HOW IS SUCH a reporting system received? "I find resistance. Theyre not committed to the detail. For the average farmer it means three-fou- r hours a month to do the accounting but to a busy farmer it is a problem. "Cooperation to do the best job (is possible) where the wife actively participates and is involved." WHILE FINAL results of the first years activity are not is yet tabulated (the program -just into its second year). Mr. Godfrey emphasizes the value of such an approach. "When we get the analysis the farmer can interpret the results. He makes his own decisions on management." The program is operating in 14 states, having originated in the big farm state of Minnesota. The Davis area program is is the first in Utah, however he sas. THE PROGRAM involves $50 tuition and costs $80 yearly for the annual service and $470 for monthly. Further information is available by calling 766-413- Clearfield To Stagger Naming Members - The CLEARFIELD Clearfield City Council has announced a plan to stagger appointments to the city planning commission. CITY OFFICIALS believe that by doing this the city can avoid losing all its experienced planners at one time. The council agreed that a problem exists when newly appointed planners have no one to teach them the ropes" of city planning business. The council has been asked by the planning commission to of consider the Gene Rasfour planners mussen, Ralph Barneck, Jim Aland and Oscar DelCastillo. ACCORDING TO Councilman Thomas Waggoner, all four are due for re- appointment over the next couple of y ears. He suggested k of Mr. the Bar-nec- and Mrs. DelCastillo for term and another three-yea- r two year terms were discussed for Mr. Aland and Mr. Rasmussen. Anyone wanting to apply for a planning commission position should contact City Manager Gayle Starks, mdm Gmmeil Oils Funds hearing to adopt the city s newly revised "subdivision ordinance" according to City Manager Phil Barber. The ordinance, according to Barber. is a refinement of the old ordinance. "It is all inclusive everything a builder needs to know is in the booklet." Race Despite a cold, rainy day for the first annual Presidents Day all of 400 than ages persons held in Bountiful last year, more participated. Now its time to register for the second annual affair to deadline is be held on Monday, Feb. 16, at 9 a.m. 6 at Feb. 14, p.m. Saturday, country around Clarkston, Cache County, hasnt really mittal and Mr. Godfrey assists with any problems as program For Post Sprinltlor-- s The CLEARFIELD Clearfield City Council has approved payment of $39,392.45 to Controlled Irrigation for the installation of a sprinkling system at Steed Park. IN A LETTER addressed to the city council, however, the irrigation company's officials asked that the money be sent to the Internal Revenue Ser- vice. Through no reason for the of funds was specified by the company, Controlled Irrigation said they would be able to collect the money later from the IRS. THE COUNCIL unanimously approved the disbursement, pending a release from the IRS. Iw Builders Should All Have Been Warned CLINTON Although leg- advised that they may be "setting a dangerous precedent" Clinton city officials allowed a developer to al council pay the pre-De- c. 29 rate for water development fee. THE DEVELOPER, Vard Swain, was "missed" when the city notified some builders of the increase prior to its being adopted. The city fathers now agree that "all or none" should have received notification. Many of the builders who were notified came in to get permits before the Dec. 29 deadline. The fee was raised from $250 to $600. Iw IN OTHER action the couna limit on spending by cil put department heads unless approved by the council. According to Barber, revenues from sales tax were "off about $7,000." However, the only plans that might be affected by the limit on spending, he said, is a storage addition to the city shop. "We will probably hold that over until the next fiscal year which begins July I." Iw accident that occurred last Wednesday afThis grinding ternoon took the life of a Layton woman. Ruth M. Gould, 46, of 1762 N. 1600 W., was dead on impact according to investigating State Highway patrol officer, Trooper George Norris. The Gould vehicle, a small compact car, was northbound on Fairfield Road and apparently ran the stop sign where the road intersects with State Road 193. The auto was hit broadside by a garbage truck driven by James R. Friedman, 37, 117 W. 1850 N., Sunset. Mr. Friedman was not car-truc- LAYTON In his first meeting as Layton Chamber of Commerce president, Dean Holman will conduct the group's regular monthly session Thursday starting at noon. BUSINESSMEN will convene at the Chateau Reception Center, 2621 E. Oak Hills Drive, where they will have lunch followed by an open discussion. Plans for the year will be made and suggestions welcomed on ways to strengthen and improve the chamber. Vice president is Hersh Ipaktchian. tb LAYTON WOMAN KILLED k |