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Show Page Eight FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1971 Fewer Potential Taxpayers in Utah Results in Higher taxes Mountain Fuel Promotes More To Top Positions One of the basic difficulties in solving Utah's state and local finance problems is that the state's population consists of a disproportionately low percentage of tax producers and a high percentage of tax customers. This is the conclusion of the Utah Foundation, the private tax research organization, in an examination of state and local expenditure trends in Utah. The study shows that only two states (Missisisppi and South Dakota) have a lower proportional population in the normal brackets working age (20-6than does Utah. Nearly 48.4 per cent of Utahs population is in this age group, compared with 52.2 per. cent for the nation as a while. Thus, with a lower proportion of tax producers and a greater demand for governmental services resulting from the higher proportion of "tax consumers, Utah is forced to impose higher general taxes than do other states in order to maintain the same level of governmental services. .The Foundation notes that dur4) ing the decade, 1950-6- 0 Utahs population under 20 years of age increased by 43 per cent with a rise of only 17 per cent in the 4 age bracket. The fact that tax consumers (those under 20) were increasing much more rapidly than the working age population resulted in a steadily increased tax burden. Total state and local tax collections in Utah rose from $80 million in 1950 to $194 million in 1960 and $418 million in '70. In terms of the changing economy, this tax load was equal to 9.6 per cent of Utaah's person income in 1950, 11.6 in 1960 and 20-6- suming population, Utah Foundation analysts expect that there should be reduced pressures for increased spending and relatively more persons to share the tax load. These factors should mitigate somewhat the rise in Utahs state and local tax burden during the years ahead. Another significant development according to the Foundation has been the movement of population from rural areas to urban centers and from large cities to suburban communities. Such population shifts have tended to accentuate the demand for increased government spending in the fields of education, highways, health, sanitation, and other urban type services. Population increases in the younger age groups have resulted in sharply higher spending for public education during the past three decades. Foundation report observes that the proportion of total state and local expenditures going for public education in Utah rose from 34.2 per cent in 1942 to 47.9 in 1960, and to 50.5 in 1970. Because of a shifting of costs to Federal Social Security, the proportion of total state and local spending allocated for public welfare declined from 20.4 in 1942 to 6.8 in 1960. A study notes, however, that a dramatic turnaround in this trend during recent years has caused increase concern to legislators, officials, and the taxpaying public. The percentage of total state and local expenditures for welfare purposes in Utah has risen from 6.2 to 7.6 percent in 1970. Growing instability in the family unit along with liberalized federal laws, regulations and court decisions are cited as major factors in this recent rise in welfare spending. THE SALT LAKE TIMES Utah Delegates to United States Youth Program Announced Mountain Fuel Supply Co. is promoting six men to key management positions within the to a reorcompany implement ganization announced previously, according to M. M. Fidlar, president. The promotions will become effective January 1, 1972. Kirby E. The selection of two Utah high has worked as a special assistant school seniors as delegates to the in a youth voter registration enth annual United States Sen- drive, has held numerous elecate Youth Program was an- tive offices in the Church of nounced Dec. 8 by the offices of Jesus Christ of Latter-da- y Saints Sen. Frank E. Moss and Sen. Sandy and was the Seminary, Wallace F. Bennett. The boys, Jordan School District winner Kirkham, presently Stephen C. Sheppard, Jordan in the American Legion Oratory High, and Douglas Brent Thom- Contest. as, Ogden High, will attend a Douglas Thomas, a son of Mr. Washington D.C., conference and Mrs. Glen L. Thomas, 2850 from Jan. 5 to Feb. 5, 1972. Two Monroe Blvd., is manager, advertising and promotion, will become director marketing and sales. He will have management responsibility for all marketing, sales and consumer relations functions in the company, including advertising. Niles R. Makin, presently Superintendent of the distribution department, Salt Lake division, will become manager of construction and maintenance activity in the companys six operating divisions. Norman A. Elkins, currently superintendent, utilization department, Salt Lake division, will be promoted to manager of utilization, with responsibility for distribution utilization activities in the six operating divisions. LaVarre J. Walter, manager, distribution engineering, will retain his present title but will assume the added responsibility of supervising all distribution engineering work in the operating divisions. Gene R. Dyer, assistant superintendent, distribution department, Salt Lake division, will become manager, gas measurement and control, with overall responsibility for gas dispatching and system operation, meas- urement engineering and Salt Lake meter shop. Earl W. Rapp, new electronics supervisor, will become supervisor of special services. He will continue to manage communications functions within the company and will assume responsibility of distribution purchasing and stores and mechanical maint- in 1970. On the other hand, there has been a slowdown in Utahs birth rate during recent years. As a reenance. Parents should keep a watchsult, the growth in the under-2- 0 age bracket was only 14 per cent ful eye on children when in or Two Bills to Aid in the 1960-7- 0 decade, compared near the water. More than half with an increase of 22 per cent of all pool drowning victims are POWs and MIAs 4 in the age group. Since youngsters under the age of ten. Senator Frank E. Moss joined 13.4 students will represent each state and the District of Columbia at the event. A $1000 scholarship to be used in studying J.S. government or related subjects at the college of his choice Joes to each delegate. The boys were chosen after competition at the Utah Senate Youth Conference at the State Capitol Bldg., Oct. 22. In Utah, he program is sponsored by the State Board of Education. Nationally the program is sponsored by the United States Senate and the William Randolph Hearst Foundation. No government funds are involved. Stephen Sheppard, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin J. Sheppard, 1824 E. 11400 South in Sandy, is a student council representative, Debate Club president and member of the National Honor Society, Key Club, the school tennis team and a special student advisory committee. He Interview With Alan Shepard, Delegate to the United Nations As a member of the U.S. dele- gation to the 26th regular session of the UN General Assembly Admiral Alan Sheppard is convinced that international problems must be settled with hand shakes, not fists. We cant solve our differences by oblitertaing other countries just because they oppose our views or because they disagree with us. If we want to exist 20-6peacefully in this world then the the working age population now An unattended small child can Senator James Buckley of New U N is the only instrument we is rising faster than the tax con quickly get into big trouble. York in sponsoring two bills to have for reaching this goal, he exempt from income taxation said in a recent interview. I think its an effective orthe military pay American Vietnam prisoners of war (POW) ganization, an international foand soldiers missing in action rum which requires lots of com(MIA) accumulate during the promises and time in the solving period in which they were held prisoners or are in a missing sta- compare &price costlier tus. The second bill makes the sons of POWs and MIAs eligible to compete in special category for appointment to the service academies. bill seeks to The POW-MI12 amend Section of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 to exclude from gross income the entire amount of compensation of members of the Armed Forces or civilian employees who are prisoners of war, missing in or in a detained status during the Vietnam conflict. Moss said the bill will make the exemption retroactive to Feb. 28, 1861 and end on a date designated by the President as A ac-tic- Light, smooth and mellow in the tradition of the finest bourbons. Sensibly priced. STRAIGHT BOURBON 86 PROOF WHISKEY Distilled and bottled by BROOK DISTILLING CO. Pekin, III. San Francisco, Ca. I Ogden High student body historian, member of the schools a cappella and chamber choirs, and has been a debater for three years. He was Junior Class president, a student council representative, and senate president and mayor at Utah Boys State. He recently played Lancelot in the Ogden High production of Camelot and has won honors as a debater and actor. During their week in Washington the boys will spend time in the offices of Utah Senators, and will have briefings with the leading cabinet members, senators, a Supreme Court justice, the speaker of the House of Representatives and other high government officials. A visit to the White House is also scheduled. Tentative arinclude a meeting rangements with President Richard Nixon, and Vice President Agnew. eral Assembly. As a member of the political and social committees of the assembly, Adm. Sheppard is dealing with such issues as prisoners of war, disarmament, outer space and environmental problems. The resolution on POWs reaffirms the provisions of the Geneva Convention with respect to the treatment of prisoners, medical attention, mail privileges, and the recognition of the International Red Cross as a neutral agent. It is important that we do all we can to insure better treatment of prisoners, and this UN resolution will hopefully bring international attention to of problems, issues and disputes. the issue, he said. At times we may become a little discouraged over how slowly Accordingf to Federal Home problems are solved, but in the long run I t hink we definitely Loan Bank Board estimates the homes prefabricated on an asneed the UN, he said. Adm. Sheppard, now chief of sembly line could cost as much the Astronaut Office at NASA as 11 per cent less than comManned Spacecraft Center in parable houses built by convenHouston, was appointed in Sep- tional methods. Cost reductions tember by President Nixon to would result from using the less serve on the U.S. delegation to skilled thus less expensive the current session of the Gen assembly line workers. n, the date cf combat termination in Vietnam. There are certain European roads for travelers to avoid. One of them is the Brenner Pass leading from Germany to Italy. As unbelievable as it may be to the Americans, one can sit at the Brenner for six hours on a hot August day, miles from the border in a terrific jam of cars just waiting for customs men, who do not hurry, to pass the vehicles. Ann B. Davis (R) and Florence Henderson (L) two of Paramounts TV TIIE BRADY BUNCH" suggest UJS. Savings Bonds as Christmas gifts for your Lunch! |