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Show Page Two ; FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 1960 THE SALT LAKE TIMES Utah Tax Program Failing in Coal, Foundation Notes Utah's statewide property re-appraisal program, while accom-plishing substantial improvement in equalization of assessment ra-tios among counties, has not significantly raised the general level of assessments of property for tax purposes in Utah. This is the major conclusion of a current review of property tax administrative problems re-leased this week by Utah Foun-dation, the private, non-prof- it tax research and public informa-tion agency. This disparity in assessment to market value ratio among the six largest counties which was measured at 35 per cent in 1951 (the high county assessed prop-erty more than one-thir- d higher in relation to selling price com-pared with the low county) has been reduced to approximately 7 per cent variation in the initial reappraisal by the State Tax Commission. Moreover, the dis-parity in assessment of the indi-vidual properties compared with the overall average was reduced base compared with the current price levels poses serious finan-cial problems for cities, coun-ties, and school districts largely dependent upon the property tax for both operating expenses and capital outlay. Since many units have reached legal levy ceilings, they are hard pressed to cope with rising price levels. The Foundation report notes that the property tax is the "most controversial and probably the poorest administered tax in the general tax structure." At the same time, the property tax is responsible for approximately 45 percent of all state or local taxes collected in Utah, and no other single state or local tax source approaches it as a revenue pro-ducer. Among the specific problems analyzed in the Foundation re-port are those relating to (1) departures from the legal basis of assessment, (2) the use of a historic rather than a current base for assessment purposes, (3) changing land use, (4) the growth of special taxing areas, (5) the suspension of deprecia-tion allowances, and (6) the need for technically qualified person-in 74 per cent of cases checked nel at both the state and local by Utah Foundation analysts as the reappraisal was completed. The Foundation report notes that assessment changes under the reappraisal program resulted mainly from marked shifts in real estate values, particularly changes in use; the detection of buildings or improvements that had gone unnoticed by assessing authorities; and the correction of assessment errors, particular-ly in classification of properties. The study emphasizes that no basic change was made in the assessment methods or formula for the first round of the reap-praisal program, and that the shortcomings of unrealistic valu-ation levels were thus perpetu-ated. The formula used for as-sessing buildings and improve-ments results in assessments at approximately 24 per cent of 1947 values, 18 per cent in 1951, 16 per cent in 1956 and less than 15 per cent in 1960, compared with the 40 per cent ratio pre-scribed by law. This progressive deterioration in the property tax levels. Foundation analysts point out that Utah, unlike many other states, has placed a considerable part of the responsibility for original assessment in the hands of the State Tax Commission. Since the entire school finance program in Utah is geared to assessed valuations, . there is a compelling necessity to achieve substantial uniformity among counties to minimize inequities in the distribution of state aid, the report emphasizes. Much remains to be done to accomplish a satisfactory equali-zation of the property tax bur-den, but the statewide reapprais-al program on a five year county by county rotation basis is the best hope to meet this objective. The report urges the importance of competent and adequate ap-praisal staff to achieve good results. A wise man is never less alone than when he is alone. Johna-tho- n Swift. Utah Medics Back Fluoridation of Water Resolutions favoring fluorida-tion of water supplies, the foster-ing of medical schools and schol-arships, and the proper labeling of poisonous products passed by the House of Delegates of the Utah State Medical Association this week. In addition, the delegates, rep-resenting some 800 physicians, expressed continuing opposition to federal legislation of the type fostering socialization of medi-cine. Attending the third Interim Session of the USMA House of . Delegates at the University of Utah, the medical men stressed that action recently taken with the Blue Shield organization will provide prepaid medical care for persons over 65 years of age at reduced fees. Increasing numbers of citizens are covered by medical insurance programs during the latter years of their lives, and Utah's physi-cians already care for the indig-ent aged, it was made clear. "Measures of the type of the Forand Bill now in Congress are a faulty approach to a serious nrnhlpm." it. was nnintprl nut Designed to provide hospital and surgical care for persons over 65 under social security, such measures would bankrupt the social security program and endanger old age pension pro-grams "while not providing med-ical care of the sort we desire for the aged," delegates stressed. Urging an enlarged program of scholarships for medical stu-detn- s, and construction of new medical schools on a nationwide basis, the USMA warned that the "output" of trained physi-cians must be boosted four per cent in the next ten years to meet population growth. The fluoridation resolution termed treatment of culinary supplies "a safe and effective means of reducing the dental caries." Labelling fluoridation a "safe, effective and in keeping with American philosophy," of utilizing scientific advances to combat disease, the State Medi-cal Association voted full sup-port of efforts to provide water treatment as recommended by the U. S. Public Health Service, American Dental Association, American Medical Association, and similar organizations. Coast Guard Sets Deadline for Numbering of Boats Effective April 1, 1960, boats of more than ten horsepower op-erated on the navigable waters of the United States must be. numbered under the Federal Boating Act of 1958, the Coast Guard announced this week. Any, vessels documented by the Bu-reau of Customs are exempted. Applicants for federal certifi-cates of number may obtain ap-plication forms at local Post Of-fices. The completed application form and a $3.00 fee must be filed with the Post Office. At that, time a blue $3.00 federal boat-ing stamp will be affixed to the application and a temporary cer-tificate will be returned to the-applicant- . This certificate will serve as proof of compliance' with the law until such time as the application has been proces-sed by the Coast Guard. The permanent certificate of number to be issued the boat owner will be an embossed plas-- ( tic card similar to a gasoline credit card. The certificate will show the Coast Guard number to be affixed to each side of the bow of the boat by the owner; and must be on board whenever;, the vessel is in use. A number awarded by the Coast Guard will be valid from the date of issu-ance and for 3 years from the date of the owner's birthday next occurring after the certifi-cate is issued. Documenatry proof of title and ownership is required by the Coast Guard with application for number. Appli-cation blanks may also be ob-tained from any Coast Guard Ma-rine Inspection Office, but the fees must be paid at the Post Office. Even though boats have been previously numbered by the-Coas- t Guard prior to March 31, 1960, application must be made for a new number on April 1st under the Federal Boating Act; however, the previous number and certificate may be retained for temporary identification un-til the new number is issued. Boat owners may continue to operate their craft legally if they have applied for renumbering, paid the required fee and re-tained proof of payment. For further background infor-mation, as of March 10, the U.S. Coast Guard has approved the numbering systems adopted in 26 states. These states include Utah. You May Have an 'Estate to Protect Many families today are prob-ably unaware that they are on the way to accumulating an "es-tate." Time was, this word could be applied only to the wealthy few. But thes days, says the Institute of Life Insurance, it can also have meaning for folks who think of themselves as having only modest means. The reason why more people are becoming involved in estates is that ownership of property is now very widespread. Three out of five families have their own homes today; and when owner-ship of automobiles, life insur-ance, savings, investments, and other material possessions is added on to the value of a home, the head of a family may have a larger estate than he realizes. Husbands and fathers from time immemorial have toiled with two goals in mind: first, to provide for their families during their lifetime; and second, to bequeath something of material value to their loved ones. But the complexity of modern times makes it necessary for men today to go beyond drawing up a will in orderto carry out the second goal. They must, in many instances, plan ahead in order to make sure that the families will receive an estate as nearly intact as possible. Experts in the area of family relations have observed that have a dozen or more things can chip away at an estate between the time that a family loses the father and the estate is finally settled. Among these are out-standing bills and debts, execu-tor and legal fees, unpaid income taxes, state inheritance taxes and federal estate taxes. Not only can one or more cause an estate to shrink in value, but perhaps worse, can make it necessary for a famliy to sell valuable prop-erty or other belongings in order to meet financial demands upon the estate. The costs of settling a $10,000 estate average about one-fift- h of the gross estate. Outstanding debts average between five and 10 per cent, and administrative expenses between 10 and 15 per cent. In addition, two or three per cent may have to go for in-heritance taxes. Not long ago the court records of 2700 estates valued at $10,000 were analyzed to determine the exact cost of settlement. It was discovered that debts, adminis-trative costs and inheritance taxes totalled nearly $2400, on an average. But there was only an average of $1100 in cash to apply to these costs. It meant that more than $1200 in cash was needed before the state could be fully settled; that money had to come out of the sale of part of the inheritance. A similar analysis of $25,000 estates showed much the same results," except that all figures were doubled: there was an av-erage lack of cash in these states amounted to $2200. Many families count on their life insurance to provide the necessary cash. As a matter of fact, says the Institute of Life Insurance, millions of dollars of life insurance now owned by families will eventually be used in paying off the many costs that must be paid before the estates of policyholders who have died can be passed on to their heirs. The median age of aid to the blind recipients in our nation is approximately 63, according to the American Foundation for the Blind, which bases its estimate on figures received from the U. S. Department of Health, Edu-cation and Welfare. THE LI6 HTE R BOUO STRAIGHT BOURBON WHISKEY 90.4 PROOF V07 BEIMONT DISTILLING CO., LAWRENCEBURO, IND. Mj Vaccines Offer Best New Hope Against Cancer A cancer killing virus while not ready for human use, has been effective in animals and may offer us new hope in the war against cancer, according to the March Reader's Digest. The disclosure is made in a panel interview with four inter-nationally known cancer author-ities, conducted by writer J. D. Ratcliff. Dr. Cornelius Rhoads, director of the Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, told Ratcliff: "There is considerable evi-dence that some viruses have an affinity for cancer cells. Right now we have two viruses which destroy cancers in rats without harming the animals themselves. We are seeking viruses which will have the same type of ac-tivity in man." He also said, "We now have reason to believe that the healty individual has natural defenses against cancer. A better under-standing of it may lead to a vac-cine type of protector against cancer." The others taking part in the symposium were Dr. John R. Heller, director, National Cancer Institute; Dr. Harold S. Diehl, senior vice president for medical affairs, American Cancer Society and Dr. I. S. Rivdin, professor of surgery, University of Penn-sylvania School of Medicine. Dr. Diehl noted that the na-tional cancer rate has gone up 36 per cent since 1935. "This is explained in part by better di-agnosis, in part by an aging pop-ulation. Yet the increase cannot be explained by the two factors alone." The cause of cancer, the four agreed, still is unknown. Dr. Heller warned that the mail promotion of quack and fraudulent cancer "cures" is at an all time high. "Beware of anyone who claims to have "a secret cure," he warned. No such thing exists. The great danger is that the quack can delay proper treatment until all hope of a cure is gone. To the question, "Will there soon be a solution to the cancer problem?" Dr. Ravdin answers, "A breakthrough may come at any moment, or it may lie years ahead." The article is titled, "Facts Everyone Should Know About Cancer." |