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Show Page 3A South Edition Lakeside Review ( Wednesday, January 18, 1984 Letters to the Editor Editorial Diaper Tax Not Justified Utahs schools are filled far above capactheres no relief in sight. Having the nation's highest birthrate, Utah has packed more students in the RDAs Become Layton Bad Fruit elected officials junkets around the world? ity and For many reasons, they have to.' And even people who are against smoking have to pay tobacco farmers to stay in classroom than educators should be expected to teach. To answer the desperate call of the edu cation profession, Gov. Scott Matheson is asking for a large increase in taxes to be earmarked for education. Now many citizens, especially those who have few or no children, are crying foul. They feel those who bring children into the world should be the ones who pay for their education in a diaper tax. Their anger is understandable, and the idea of a diaper tax has some merit. But that solution, at least in the extreme, would be disastrous to Utahs education. Some things should be kept in perspec- business. Of all the things which taxpayers are forced to support, education seems the least objectionable. And if parents with many children are asked to pay per' child for their education then they might question why military people shouldnt foot the defense bill, old people the social security system, poor people the welfare and food stamp programs and fanners the land bank? , Second, its easy to put labels on people who do things differently than you do. A person with a large family is not necessarily irresponsible. It would be just as false to claim that people who have few or no chiltive: dren always are responsible people. - First, many people are forced to pay for It would be in the best interest of all concerned to drop labels during the debate things they dont want to support. of a diaper tax: Many people are against the arms, buildThe important thing to remember in all up or sending young men to Lebanon.. But discussions is that quality education for the they are forced to support the defense budchild is the ultimate goal. get with a healthy slice of their taxes. ' There is A diaper tax has some appeal, and even can a do about nothing taxpayer it. Even if heshe doesnt agree with a makes some sense to a degree. But it should be carefully studied. If the educabuildup of nuclear weapons, having soldiers' killed in Lebanon or allowing the tion system relies too heavily on a diaper Pentagon to buy a common bolt for tax, then only educational quality will fall, not the number of children. $1,000, they still have to pay. Millions who are now paying Social Education is a public commodity, which will means never the receive tax benefit it is in the publics interest to pay Security of the system,. And yet, they have to shell for it. Perhaps those now complaining about paying for other childrens education out the money. see the Other taxpayers gross' injustice should realize that their education was supand abuse of the food stamp and welfare ported by the American public, regardless programs. But there is no box on the 1040 of family size. form which they can check off if they dont The future of America is its upcoming want their money to go to social programs. generation; its security is the quality of ed, And why do taxpayers have to pay for ucation, it gives that generation. -- Letters to the Editor City Officials , Are Criticized Editor Review When a mayor, city council and city engineer oppose the will and desires of the residents of an area in the city who have suffered much hardship and property damage from the 1983 flood, defy the recommendations of a competent and professional conI sulting engineering company and (Schick International), choose to ignore the report and findings of a reliable soils testing engineering company (Dames & Moore), there is a serious question as to the judgement and credibility of those city officials. In an article in the Deseret News, Dec. 21, 1983, the mayor criticizes the recommendation of Schick International, for a permanent and lasting storm drainage .system of First South Street, to carry flood water from Deuel Creek and thereby protect apI proximately 50 homes, including the three homes on Fourth South, as , being too costly ($650,000 to $700,000). However he finds no fault with the expenditure of $225,000 of the taxpayers money to protect three homes on Fourth South Street. He seems eager to have the county build some sand dikes on a 16 foot sand base on city property (a $180,000 gift to the county), as being an urgent quick fix as opposed to a permanent and lasting structure, one that would preyent future flooding, property damage and lawsuits along a meandering creek. As to the urgency, what was being done when the sun was shining in July, Aug., and September? The mayor is worried about the storm drain clogging up on First South but seems unconcerned about a similar proposed drain clogging up on Fourth South Street. One of the major problems of culverts clogging up was at Fourth South and Main Street where the expertise of our city engineer, in his attempt to drain a 36 inch pipe at maximum flow into an 18 inch, pipe, failed. As to storm drains clogging up I quote from the experience of the Child Brothers Construction Co. who state in our experience with storm drains we have found that the clogging usually takes place at the clean-out- s where logs and trash lodge and this can be prevented by the installation of properly engineered gratings at the intake. The mayor is further concerned about the liability to the city in the diverting of a stream into an adequate storm drain, however he was not concerned about the diverting the flood waters of Bernard Creek down a residential street which damaged private property and presented the threat of drowning of children in the playyard at the Jenny P. Stewart School. The demnation and land-grabbi- practices which- - typify RDAs, not to mention the shady deals made with stolen tax dollars. Woods Cross would be wise to learn from Bountifuls tragic history. North Salt Lake should also take warning: By their fruits ye shall know them. The fruits of the RDA tree are rotten! In his usual flamboyant style, we now see Kit Bettilyon urging that they grab the $30,000 and run. Of course, if one follows the dollars, one finds that this money was forcibly taken (or stolen, to be more precise) from Bounti- ful shoppers and residents through taxes. Not content with this crime, Mr. Bettilyon blatantly urges that Woods Cross maintain its RDA but not embark on any other projects, so he may continue to draw a salary for doing nothing! One can picture him rubbing his hands with glee at the thought. In Bountiful, things are no better, as Constitutional rights are bulldozed for being in the path of progress. f Such irresponsible reporting may lead to the establishment of a Ministry of Truth, to disseminate True News for the public good worded in Newspeak.. After all, this is 1984. War is Peace. Freedom is Slavery. Ignorance is Strength. 1984. Happy New Year? Willy Marshall Secretary, Libertarian Party of Utah Of Library the library card and then had to ask the city of Layton to reim- burse them. This is no longer the case. It is actually easier for them to get cards now. Dont Pay -- Review Editor: I have been closly following the articles in recent weeks on the Davis County Library, its fee increase for out of system users and Laytons refusal to rejoin the system. While you have been very fair and seem to cover both sides there is one important point you have left out of all your articles. Residents of Layton DO NOT have to pay the $25 fee. They need only come to the library and sign a list. At the end of the month Layton city is billed for the total number of cards issued to Layton residents that month. Previously, individuals had to put out of their own pocket for existing system which already has a basic collection. Besides, the main branch at Farmington is woefully overcrowded and it cant be too soon that they build a new headquarters building. Certainly they must consider Layton a logical site if it is part of the system. We should all consider the needs of the county as a whole, since it is, after all, a County Library System. Shari Meyer Clearfield Letter Policy The Lakeside Review encourages letters to the editor as a way of allowing citizens to speak out on issues that involve the local community. However, the Review is responsible for what is printed in the newspaper and will not letters which are publish deemed to be libelous or in bad taste. All letters must be signed by the author and accompanied by an address and phone number. Address all letters to Review Editor, Lakeside Review, 2146 N. Main, Layton, Utah 84041, or 145 N. Main, Bountiful, Utah 84010. PREVENT COSTLY V) CHIMNEY FIRES! I5) f For . 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The cost i of starting a whole new system ; would certainly be exorbitant ' and they would probably end up with a lot less than by joining an nOftmm Yuoir Centerville L:AVJi0l3ntm5l' -- ' question seems to be (why is the mayor so anxious to give away $180,000 worth of city property to the county, who he has cajoled into granting interim approval to build a sand dike dam on a sand hill)? Robert J. McClain Review Editor: Woods Cross city officials are to be applauded if they actually do get out of the redevelopment agency business, as recently reported. Residences and businesses of that city would then no longer be under the threat of the con- Users |