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Show . Opinions Tax service Letter to the Editor: and anger at the Presidents attempt to use Vietnam vets for his own political purposes. The sentiment among veterans from all walks of life and all parts of the country was NO MORE strong and deep : VIETNAMS PERIOD. Among veterans with children the sentiment was near unanimous, not our children, notour nation, never again. Combat vets said it the loudest. The reality is that nobody won the Vietnam War. It was a shared human tragedy. We lost tens of thousands. The Vietnamese lost hundreds of thousands. This is the presence that lives at the Wall: the feeling of loss. And it hurts. And it will always hurt. Only now, 10 years after the trauma of our experiences in Vietnam, are we beginning to be able to deal with it, to turn from it and lode more towards the future. And what is there to greet us in the future but the specter of the next Vietnam in Central America. An open letter to the American people from Americas Veterans: On Veterans Day week-en1984, with the eyes of the nation focused on a gathering of more than 100,000 Vietnam veterans in Washington, DC, President Reagan, on the sacred d ground of the Vietnam Veterans War Memorial, said, its time we moved on in unity and with resolve, Casper Weinberger, at Arlington Cemetery, said that we must never again send Americans into battle unless we plan to win and George Schultz has already told us that we must be prepared to lose a few innocent victims. These three statements taken together constitute a recipe for war. In short what they are cooking up for us is death, destruction, and chaos, Another batchof Vietnam stew. We are worried that, to you, our fellow Americans, it may have appeared that Vietnam veterans were lining up behind the President as he prepares to march our nation off to war in Central America. Despite how the media portrayed it nothing could b& further from the With a strength and voice that must be heard throughout the land we say NO. You must listen to us. You must talk to us. Especially you truth. In actuality there was resentment with guest speakers such as Legislator Ron Fullmer, Craig Barlow, Executive Director of The Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice, and Major Elton of the Salt Lake Police Department. We were presented with a legislative bill which has been presented to the legislature for the past two years and not made it through the process. Ron Fullmer gave us copies of the bill for our consideration and possible support. We would like your ideas and consideration on the problems confronting Victims of crime. Only with the personal involvement of concerned citizens and victims can we do any thing about the overwhelming problems that face victims of crime, which the current systems ignores. We are seeing some considerable changes this month in nt largest care facility for these mentally retarded people. The Association for Retarded is a private, independent advocacy agency Citizens-Uta- h non-prof- it, seeking to ensure quality services increased and community awareness about persons with The Utah Petroleum Association, Utah Manufacturers Assocation, Utah Mining Association and Utah Taxpayers Association herewith express their unanimous opposition to imposition of a 6 per cent utility franchise tax in the unincorporated area of Salt Lake County. This proposed tax is a particularly pernicious idea at a time when thoughtful people, including our Governor-elec- t Norm Bangerter, have recognized that we neeed to expand our tax base by encouraging industrail development. The imposition of a 6 percent surcharge on all gas, phone and electrical service will impair economic development in the unincorporated area of Salt Lake County. The unincorporated area is currently the only tax attractive place within Salt Lake County for energy intensive industries to locate ana tms uu wiu effectively close the county to such industrial development. This is an indirect hidden sales type tax, not on utilities, but on all users. It may appear appealing to the County Commission to require others to collect the tax and therby deflect criticism to the utilities. tax strategies for small businesses and individuals. Tax experts for GBS national participated in the seminar. office Florez regularly attends such seminars to maintain a thorough understanding of tax laws and any changes to ensure that his clients pay only the minimum possible taxes. in Regular participation seminars such as this provides a great opportunity to interchange ideas with others who are knowledgeable in the field of taxation, Florez reported. General Business Services is the nations leading organization providing business management and tax services to small businesses and GBS provides professionals. business and financial counseling, recordkeeping systems, computer services, guaranteed tax return preparation and tax research to tens of thousands of small businesses throughout the country. The number of incorrect tax returns will undoubtedly Brow in the COniUEEl some agencies, and would like to see them enforced. Next weeks meeting we are presenting the Salt Lake Police Departments programs concerning helping Victims of Crime. We will also have copies of the legislative bill available on Victims Reparations for your information and discussion. During the month of April the County Attorney is sponsering a Victims Seminar. We are interested in sponsering an activity during the week of ApriU5-1- 9 and need talented and willing workers to help with the effort. We have a spot for everyone But as the saying goes United we stand, divided we fall. We need much more participation to change the sad state of current victim neglect. Please., join us. Thank you for your publicity and help. We appreciate it. Pam Genovesi P.O. Box 26422 S.L.C., UT 84126 the implementation of the State Master Plan which outlines the criticality of a client-drive- service delivery n system. It is the combined responsibility of the Division of Services to the the Handicapped, advocacy organizations and service providers to insure the establishment of a full array of services that will enable each person with mental retardation to enjoy a quality of life similar to that of their peers. Until such a delivery system is in place, we must continue to work together to guarantee that each resident of the Utah State Training School is free from harm and is the from benefitting this programming offer. best state has to 9.38 miU levy currently imposed for service municipal-typ- e . The implication being that this will not be a tax increase. Your own budget, however, shows that this proposal will result in an effective revenue increase of at least $3.6 million next The cost to individual year. taxpayers is even greater, however, because the property tax is deductible in computing income tax whereas an addition to the utility bill is not. We and our members adamantly oppose the imposition of a utility franchise tax and believe that the citizens of the unincorporated Salt Lake County agree. The Utah Taxpayers Association surveyed its over 2,000 members last month concerning this issue. Ninety-thre- e percent of those responding expressed opposition to the utility franchise tax. We urge the County Commission to reconsider and reject this proposed tax. I I1 MAONATIMIS USPS 3255-800- f Wt i 1 Editor J HOWARD STAHLE S fS ss Subscription rata $8 par yaar Published Thursdays I1 a 2 Postmaster send efienge of address to: 9 124 West 2700 South Magna, Utah 84044 S s Second Class Postage Paid at Maqna. Utah 8404 PifiiithiiiiiiiiiiiiMiiithmiiiiiiiiiiHiiitiiiiiiiiiiii Two major provisions in the Nov. 28 will seriously limit the reform tax for proposal Treasury Departments must be provided to our that services to finance ability of local government in response to the tax simPhil Elfstrom, President NACO said citizens, Donald T. plification plan announced yesterday by Treasury Secretary Regan. Local governments will be hard hit by the elimination of deductions for state and local taxes, and especially the property tax. The loss of tax restrict our ability to exemption for many state and local bonds will further finance local government, he continued. . We cannot continue to be given more responsibilities for increased services and not the ability to pay for them. We need the flexibility to give our citizens the services they require, he said. The loss of the ability to deduct property taxes will, in effect, mean an automatic tax increase in local taxes paid by the individual taxpayer. The increase, Elfstrom said, will amount to taxation without representation at the local level, since it will have been imposed without the consent of the local governing boards or the local voters." This increase in turn will restrict the flexibility for counties to raise local taxes when absolutely necessary to provide needed or mandated services. Without the ability to generate necessary revenues, counties run the risk of either delaying or simply reducing services to citizens, said Matthew B. Coffey, NACO executive director. As a county official, it concerns me to think that this plan may inhibit local taxpayers in their support for local efforts to raise revenue for needed services said Elfstrom, who also is a Kane County, IB., board member. Raising local revenue is already very difficult he said. Counties rely on property taxes alone for over 30 percent of their revenues, with another 35 percent coming from revenues collected by the WASHINGTON, ching the shoplifter. Die chief also urged shoppers to lock their items in a car trunk. An expensive looking package on a car seat is an invitation and even if the car is v locked an accomplished thief can smash & window, steal the package and be gone in seconds. Association president Hamilton emphasized that shoplifters do not restrict their thefts to major department stores. Specialty shops, appliance stores and even neighborhood stores are just as vulnerable to shoplifters, he said. pfggod:jab. mor: FOR ALL BREEDS a No tranquiliiori a Styling a Clipping a Fluff drying a Bathing a Mambar Utah PiofaMlanal Grooming I Koordlng Association THE KENNEL INN 4Q53SO. 7200We$t Magna A 3 Jlonoj-255- Now is the time to subscribe to the MAGNA TIMS -i- ts gxd cd gstting better end better. , As advertising is the prime means of support for your newspaper (The Magna Times) it would be appreciated if you would tell the merchants where you shop that their message will gain them good results if they would ad- - a full year Name i Address City vertise in the: a We're interested in you IN TIMES ! State Phone 7ip mmvwm . 1 3 D.C. MAttJA BERNICE PINEUE Managing Editor Publisher BONNIE STAHLE Advertising and Office Manager Tax reform package limits services ability to finance - weU-train- 0 9124 2700 South Magna, Utah 84044 information general present 966-840- , within the area. unincorporated in program better, more sophicated than ever Shoplifters are running a higher risk of getting caught and forced into the Utah criminal justice system this year than ever before. More sophisticated detection techniques and equipment, more unifor- med officers on duty, highly technical surveillance equipment, trained store security officers and a cooperative determination to prosecute for retail theft are the reasons, according to the Utah Retail Merchants Association. Kerm Hamilton, association president, said Utah law enforcement officers and store security officers are doing a better job than ever before. The national average for property theft is about 13 percent of all crime. The Utah average is 21.6 percent, he said. The fact that the Utah average is higher than the national figure simply means that law officers are doing a better job, the measures are more efficient and the courts are prosecuting, according to Hamilton. He added that retailers estimate that $35 million worth of goods are stolen each year from retail stores in Utah. Those losses are passed along to the customer in the form of significantly higher prices. Salt Lake Police Chief E. W. (Bud) Willoughby said nine additional officers are on walking beats specificaUy to combat shoplifting, in addition to the six already detailed to that task. And new measures are being taken to crack down on fences who buy stolen goods. Stolen goods are being fenced out of automobile trunks, around schools and even from roadside stands. We know how these fences operate and shoplifters are going to have a tough time getting rid of stolen goods, he said. But Chief Willoughby painted a different picture of the typical shoplifter in 1984. In past years, the majority of shoplifters were either very young, or in the older age group. Now, only 25 percent of the shoplifters are 17 or younger .And, 35 percent of the shoplifters are 36 and older, 25 percent 18 to 25 and 15 percent 26 to 35. We can attribute this age group shift directly to the use of drugs. We find that about 60 percent of the shoplifters arrested are stealing to feed a drug habit. They dont steal to get something they want - they steal to buy drugs, primarily cocaine. Cocaine is an insideous habit and its expensive. Many white coUar workers with a drug habit cant afford the stuff on a regular salary, so they turn to shoplifting because its less risky than burglary or armed robbery, the chief said. He added that shoplifters are no longer amateurs or someone out for a lark. More of them are professionals and we find that about a third of those arrested are transients - they dont even live here, he said. The chief said there are two facets to fighting and reducing shoplifting, floorfirst, he admonished the retail merchants to have walkers, familiar with the shoplifters methods of diverting attention in another direction, then stealing. He added that internal security is important because nothing deters a thief quite as weU as a uniformed officer. Second, the chief said the buying public can help. If a theft is observed, a quick report to a clerk can be of tremendous help to store officials in cat- - mental retardation. The Association and its local member affiliates support taxpayers tax-savin- Counties also use tax exempt bonds to finance most major public facilities, many of which are privately owned. This includes many airports, pollution control facilities, and wastewater treatment plants or utilities.The tax exemption in this area is vital to local government since it lowers the cost of financing these projects which in turn lowers costs to each taxpayer. But the Treasury Department proposal would eliminate exemptions for interest on these investments unless the facility is owned and operated by the government. While the National Association of Counties supports comprehensive tax reform, we are concerned about the implications to local government, Coffey said. We will be reviewing this proposal in detail during the coming weeks and meeting with county officials from around the country to study that issue. Anti-Shoplifti- ng wholeheartedly assist understanding the changes and new dates GBS is offering their Tax Tips for The Small Business Owner and Individual booklet. This booklet will provide taxpayers with ideas for year-roun- d as well as year-enpersonal tax and financial planning. The purpose of this booklet is to concerning areas of special interest and to help readers identify possible for g opportunities discussion with a qualified business counselor," says the foreward of the booklet. To get a copy of this booklet you can write pr. call General Business Services at the following address: 3325 West 6580 South, West 0 Jordan, Utah 84084 ( 801) are law tax the of changes Many already in effect, so individuals are advised to act now or consider the consequences it may make on their tax returns. state. -- This tax will automatically increase everytime the Public Service Commission grants a rate increase. Property taxes do not automatically increase because overall property values increase, but are determined as necessary to meet budget needs. In the sector, this tax hits hardest the poor, the elderly and those of our citizens on fixed incomes. :. Renters are particularly hard hit, since it cannot be reasonably expected that landlords will reduce rents even if property taxes are reduced. You have attempted to sell this proposed tax with the argument that you will simultaneously reduce the y on CHUCELLE Letter: Against tax change Dear Commissioners Stewart, Barker and Shimizu: To Rick R. Florez, owner of General Business Services in West Jordan, seminar recently attended a two-da- We offer a new recipe, one that combines understanding, courage, love and generosity. It makes a meal called peace and its to be shared with all of humanity. To the memory of those friends we hove lost, with the pain which we will never forget, we dedicate our efforts. With hope that the peace we build wiU be so strong and so long that war will become a dim reality for all of humanity. Letter to the Editor In a statement issued today, Marlene Harrison, President of the Association for Retarded Citizens-Uta- h says, the Association is not willing to accept current allegations that differing philosophical opinions between advocacy agencies are the cause for current conditions at the Training School. Utahs advocacy organizations are deeply committed to the welfare and care of persons with mental retardation and the Association for is distressed Retarded Citizens-Uta- h client-to-clieabuse the by situations occuring at the States attends meeting young people. Your understanding of Agent Orange and its effect on us is not yet complete. Your understanding of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and its effect on us is not yet complete. The Vietnam experience cries out for justice and justice has yet to be done. We will not allow the coffin of Vietnam to be nailed shut with us still in it. We will not be buried alive and allow a new generation of Americans to have their hearts broken and their minds scrambled by leaders who are so and so arrogant, and so safe that they can and are, at this very moment, planning the next Vietnam. Letter to the Editor on Our Monday meeting December 3, was very informative coming years due to the dozens of changes in the tax law as a result of the 1984 Tax Reform Act, says Rick R. Florez, owner of General Business Services in West Jordan. MAGNA TIMES, z 9124 W. 2700 So.; Magna, Utah 84044 locatod In traditional downtown Magna nt'iP v |
