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Show t 2 The Salina Sun 1 Wednesday. Sept. 21 . 1988 Letters to the Editor UNEMPLOYMENT LOWEST SINCE 1979 More people in Utah A question for Readers have good jobs Utahs unemployment rate Retail trades year over job growth was nil. Local state and government employment experienced a combined year over increase of 1 .7 percent which added 1 600 jobs to Utah s This is attributable to economy. employment gains in local school districts in the metropolitan areas. Utahs construction industry continues to deteriorate. August of 1988 saw a 2,700 job, or 9.4 percent loss from one year ago. However, the previous twelve month construction job loss had been 18.3 percent continued its downward trend in August, dropping to 4.7 percent. It hasnt been this low since 1979, when the rate averaged 4.3 percent One year ago the rate was 6.5 per- cent Sixteen states had unemployment rates below 5 percent and seven had rates less than 4 percent Utahs ranking among the fifty states was 29th. Newly revised estimates indicate tat Utahs year over growth in non farm payroll jobs has accelerated to 2.2 percent This means that 1 3,900 more workers are represented on the payrolls of Utahs employers than were recorded in August of 1987. One of the best indications of improvement in Utahs economy is the growth in mining and manufacturing employment Mining jobs number 8,600 in Utah, 7.5 percent greater than the year ago level. Although the numerical gain is just 600 jobs, strength in mining also gives Utah a psychological boost Manufacturing added 4,100 to Utahs economy in the most jobs recent 12 months, a growth of 4.4 percent Over half of this gain occurred in primary metals - copper and steel - manufacturing When Utahs economy was faltering, the services sector kept in on course with consistent year over increases of 5k000 to 11,00 jobs. With the economy on the upswing, services continues to lead the state in the generation of new jobs. August 1988 data indicate 8,000 additional services jobs have been created in the 12 month period preceding. The Utahs non-Morm- KSL-TV-Rad- io finance-insurance-'re- al estate industry finished the last 12 months in the red in terms of job creation. Employers in this sector lost 300 jobs. Overall, average weekly wages are lower in Utah than in the nation: $344 versus $385. bulk of these are good quality jobs in personal, business and amusement services. Also experiencing strong year overgrowth is Utahs transportation communicationpublic utilities industry. Within this group, motor and air transportation grew rapidly, at 1 1 percent, while the remaining activities lost jobs. t Fall hunts Fire danger in Utah is not as severe as it is in some of the surrounding states, so there are no plans to curtail or close hunting in Utah, according to the Governors Interagency Task Force after a meeting to address the fire danger issue. The group, made of representatives of the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, State Forester, and Division of Wildlife Resources, met last week to look at the threat of fire danger for the upcoming big game hunts, which are set for September and October. The recommendation from the task force is to develop a public awareness campaign so tat people know the danger of forest fires and what they can do to prevent, them. In the meantime, the task force will closely monitor the fire danger situation. If the threat is heightened, they will meet with the Governor in a briefing session to discuss concerns and strategies wherever the situation warrants. UhOh CALL BEFORE YOU DIG. Something as simple as that little lawn project could turn out to be a real problem for you and your neighborhood. Avoid the problem, call us before you dig. There are miles of telephone cables, as well as gas, electric and cable TV lines buried all over. A few quick calls at least 48 hours before you start digging will get someone out to your place, at no charge, to mark the location of underground utility cables. This could help you avoid injury, service disruptions and the possibility of big repair charges for damaged underground utility cables. The number for the Buried Telephone Cable Location Service in your area is 1 800-662-41- 11 (toll-free- ). Remember, to avoid a big "Uh...Oh...," call before you dig. VHSNEST' COMMUNICATIONS Letters to the Editor: As a living in the heart of Mormondom,' I was happy to see Gordon B. Hinckley say that the Church would take no position on the tax initiatives. However, it does stretch the Churchs credibility to the breaking point when both the Deseret News and (both owned by the LDS Church) have given $7,500 to Taxpayers for Utah (the organization created for the sole purpose of defeating the initiatives). There must be high ranking Church officials seated on the Boards of Director for both corporations who help make corporate decisions; anditis inconceivable that their influence wouldnt weight a decision. It reminds me of the old axiom, I cant hear what you say when what you do rings so loudly in : my ears. Could it be that they are so removed from whats happening in their midst that they are oblivious to the fact that an increasing number of Mormons and are wondering why the Church wants to keep the heel of oppressive government squarely on our necks? Something here just doesnt square with reality. Connie Chandler Ogden, Utah go as scheduled The prolonged dry conditions in Northern Utah, and the extensive fire in Whiterocks, are of special concern. As were the extensive fires in Yellowstone National Park. These fires caused Montana to close most of the state to hunting. Fortunately, due to the break in the weather, Montana and the recent fires has been able to reschedule some hunts. Land management agencies in Idaho and Wyoming have also closed some wilderness areas to recreational use. The return to dry weather may increase the threat of forest fires. SAYS WEATHER SERVCE Hottest summer in 115 years in Utah If you thought it was hotter than usual during the summer of 1988, you were right, according to the National Weather Service. They say this summer has been the second driest and the hottest summer in 1 15 years of weather keeping. During the summer months of June, July and August, the mean (average) temperature was IfH degrees, four degrees over tfte 73.7 usually experienced by the three month period. To find the mean temperature, the days high and low temperatures are combined and divided by two. There were six days - two in June and four in July - when the mercury rose above 100 degrees at Salt Lakes International Airport Warmer than usual nighttime temperatures along with the many over 95 degree daytime temperatures, all combined to make this the hottest summer in 1 15 years in Utah. Its also been a record setting summer for precipitation - or the lack of precipitation - with the monthly total reaching only .22 inches, just23 percent of normal, the weather service added. With only the month of September left in the current water year, the precipitation total is just 9.87 inches, 68 percent of the water year total of 14.42 inches. June, July and August are usually dry months in Utah, but this year only .29 inch of precipitation was recorded, making it the second driest three month period on record. And one more for the weather record book - the highest night time record for August of this year was 72 degrees, matching the previous minimum high set in 1982. Heart & American Association WERE FIGHTING FOR YOUR LIFE School Board decisions Continued from Page 1 Reducing the District Office staff by 18 percent or one secretary and one administrator in number seven on the list. Now there are three published for $ 2.00 per year in Utah and $14.50 per year out of the state of Utah by the Salina Sun, 63 East Main, Salina, Utah 84654. Second class postage is paid at Salina, Utah 84654. three department administrators, heads, two clerics and two and three quarters secretaries on the staff, a 37, District this year show elementary pupil-teachratios hovering around percent reduction since 1980. If reductions of work could 30 because teachers who left last year be made along with reductions of were not replaced, ? The School Board has also , staff, that wouldnt! bad, said on ..drawn who up a list of things that could be qjreikjyj ( wqrks secretary, worse, but they lunch through hqujfa logs overtime, but the volume of Arc hopeful that these steps will nevei work won tchange, and there will be have to be taken. Board members also rejected a fewer people to do it. Secretarial help at two high list of alternatives which included schools would next be reduced -- closing three schools, year round Richfield from two to one - and; scheduling, reducing workbooks and South Sevier from 1.5 to 1; and one supplies, and reducing the school person from the district maintenance week to four days. There ; are eight programs staff would be laid off. Custodial which local districts do not control. 20 be would staff reduced by percent are staff a to half member They youth in custody, special overall, equal on each campus complex. education, transportation, adult education, accelerated classes, vocaHigh school counselor positions would be reduced to half time. tional programs, kindergarten and career ladders. Next, classroom sets of textIf the Initiatives pass, the state would books be maintained, rather than providing one book per student. will make budget decisions that the In some schools, for some subjects, districts will have to live with, but the list is in order of priority, with the this is already being done. More than 50 percent would be most important areas being at the bottom of the list Possible actions cut from the budget for school activities, activity transportation, points would be to reduce youth in custody pay for coaches and advisors, and and special education by 10 percent field trips, unless funding is provided each, take $10,000 from the local from a private source. It took, for transportation budget, and eliminate the other programs completely. example, $1,500 to transport RichIn summary, the bottom line field Highs basketball team, drill would be more students per teacher, and band interested students to team, the state tournament in Ogden last fewer learning opportunities for students, increased costs forparents, and year, plus $646 to pay bus drivers. Where coaches or advisors are the loss of 38 jobs. Sevier School District is one of qualified bus drivers, they are not paid for driving their own team or the largest employers in the county;, group, and this brings the cost of bus with more than 425 full and part time employees. An unofficial student trips down somewhat Another cut on the list is a enrollment figure this fall is 4,670, reduction of media personnel by 50 about 40 more students than last year. If one or two but not all three of percent; since there is one media person per school, this cuts their jobs the initiatives pass, and less than $1.1 million were to be cut, the school to half time. board would start cutting funds or the list on to Highest priority from services with the first items is the cuts reducing increasing protect already high pupil teacher ratio. In on the first- list, and cut until the the event of passage of the Initiatives, required figure was achieved. Dr. Rock said voters must learn the teaching staff would be reduced the students to four each facts, 22, weigh the advantages by adding against the disadvantages, consider classroom in the district the consequences, and make the Statistics show that Sevier choice that will be for the best good School District has the highest pupil- - of all concerned. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to the Salina Sun, Tax initiatives The Salina Sun (USPS 478-08- 0) 63 East Main Salina, Utah 84654 Phone The (USPS 478-08- 0) 529-783- 9 Salina Sun, is each Wednesday 1 P.O. Box C, Salina. Utah 84654. Single Copy $.35 Publisher: Kevin Ashby Editor: Carol Jensen Correspondents: Aurora: Kathleen Lloyd Redmond: Tammy Johnson Salina: Evelyn Kiesel er guly6ejo - Continued from Page 1 equal to 9.5 of the 1988-8- 9 general fund appropriation. Revenues to the public schools would be cutby about $ 123.3 million if all three initiatives are approved. This includes $89.8 million in local school property taxes and $33.5 million in uniform school fund revenue. This sum is equal to about 13 of the total operating expenditures of local school districts in Utah. Utahs highway program would be most adversely affected by the proposed initiatives, according to the Foundation report. If the tax on motor fuel and diesel fuel is reduced by five cents a gallon, revenues to the transportation fund would be slashed by $41,295,000, or 21.3 of total highway user revenue. In addition to funding the state highway program and providing state aid for local roads, highway user revenues are used to finance the state highway patrol and certain administrative and general overhead costs. |