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Show Page 2 THE UTAH STATESMAN Friday, April In a time when the Federal government has preempted so many sources of revenue which otherwise would be available to the states, it is important to make sure that state revenue sources are protected from further invasion. a bill which would not recently only do this, but would restore to the states certain property rights they have given up during recent years. The law, if enacted, will be especially important to Utah. It provides for payments to local governments in lieu of taxes on certain property owned by the Federal government More than of the land in Utah is owned by the Federal government. Therefore, the state has an acute problem finding enough real property to support our schools and to provide the other revenue necessary to pay the costs of state, county, and local government. I think the State of Utah would fare much better if a way could be devised to place much of this Federal property on the tax rolls, rather than to have to face the uncertainty of having Congress each year provide funds for payments in lieu of taxes. However, it appears that for the present at least, the only course available tis to enact "in lieu" payment ligislation such as that proposed by S. 910. The Federal government owns 36,558,669.5 acres of land in Utah, out of a total of 52,701,440, or a total of 69.4 of the entire land area of the State. On this land there are 160 installations with a total of 3,984 buildings, and the government carries thii property on its books at the nominal acquisition cost I 10, 1959 . ed two-thir- ds ever-increasi- ng APRIL 15th, 6:15 P.M., WILL BE THE SCENE OF THE nn V Wily ef He M eetning of $371,480,000. Actually, the property is worth many times this amount because of the appreciation of property values and the increased costs which would have to be made to replace these buildings. These startling figures give some indication of the major problem the State faces in finding adequate sources of tax revenue, and why this legislation which proposes payments in lieu of taxes offers a glimmer of hope to us. With 69.4 per cent of the State's land area Federally owned . (more than any other state except Nevada), the population is concentrated in a limited number of communities. The result is that while Utah has one of the lightest population densities in the United States (8.4 persons per square mile), it is also one of the most urbanized states in the nation. The State also has the highest birth rate (30.8 per thousand) of any state except New Mexico, and the lowest death rate in the nation (7.2 per thousand). When you combine all of these features, it can readily be seen that Utah faces a staggering problem in raising sufficient revenues to provide adequate schools and other government services. It is only right and proper that the Federal government should contribute a fair share to these costs, since much of the problem stems directly from the amount of property which is owned and controlled by the Federal government. Unfortunately in 1943, the then Democratic legislature of Utah ceded exclusive jurisdiction to the United States over all lands "theretofore or thereafter acquired or leased by the United States for military or naval purposes and for forts, magazines, arsenals, dockyards and other needful buildings of whatever kind outhorized by Act of Congress, reserving to the State the right to execute civil and criminal process only." This legislation has cost Utah. Will be the Guest Speaker. Mr. Lloyd's Subject will be Me legislature Mrs. Elizabeth Pratt urges all members to be present and bring Guests. Mrs. Pratt says that the 1959 Legislature has a special meaning this year to every citizen of Utah. The problems of Legislation has many facets. This meeting will afford an opportunity for better understanding of the Legislature's procedures and resulant legislation. RESERVATIONS MAY BE MADE WITH: MRS. ELIZABETH PRATT THE UTAH STATESMAN CR 7-16- - EM 4-56- 61 Daytime Evenings 71 A Weekly Newspaper Devoted to Good Government HARRY B. MILLER, Publisher H. V. WRIGHT, Editor Entered as 2nd Class matter at the Post Office at Salt Lake City, Utah, under the Act of March 3, 1879 Subscription rate $1.00 per year Published weekly at 421 Church Street Salt Lake City, Utah Vol. 13; No. 13 Mrs. Mrs. Mrs. Lori Madge H. Fairbanks. LaVerl Neilsen Janet Schoenhals . Rytting April 10, 1959 or t MRS. JUNE WOOLEY - EM HU 5-25- 70 4-56- 61 Daytime Evenings Associate Editor ..Editorial Editorial State Central Committee 7 |