Show Duchesne County Taxpayers Taxpayers Taxpayers Tax Tax- payers Association Demand Demand Denland De De- mand Tax Reduction I The Duchesne County Taxpayers ers Association was called to meet and did meet at the Ule court house at Duchesne at p. p m m. on Thursday February 25 and the President L. L A. A Hollenbeck called called caned call can ed John Joan Madsen to the chair Lulu l read the minutes which were approved Then L L. L A A. Hollenbeck Hollenbeck Hol HoI read road a resolution demanding demanding demanding demand demand- ing the school board as well as the county commissioners and the state tax commission to reduce taxes Leading teachers were Invited invited invited in in- so that everybody might be heard as well wen as the school board and the resolution was ably debated de de- bated Prof G G. G A. A Stromberg and Supt Iverson defended the present present present pres pres- ent salaries ably and well wen The Theother Theother Theother other side was well wen represented by Chester Hartman W. W G. G Gentry Gent Gent- ry Chris Larsen Geo S. S Tingley John O. O Watters Wm Vm H. H Case John olm J Madsen and was closed by L. L A. A Hollenbeck after which the resolution was passed and adopted adopt adopt- ed by a unanimous vote The resolution resolution resolution res res- res- res reads follows as-follows WHEREAS It is the purpose of the Duchesne County Taxpayers Association to use all reasonable means to reduce the taxes on all an tangible property both real and I personal and to accomplish this it is recognized that the remedy is a specific remedy that is to f find d 1 where the troubles lie and to demand a remedy AND VEREAS we are opposed ed cd to raising or maintaining I taxes above the ability of the taxpayers I Ito to pay and are opposed to any increase in taxes unless the reasons reasons reasons rea rea- sons therefore be very extraordinary extraordinary nary which extraordinary occasion occasion occasion occa occa- sion does not now exist nor is it I likely ely soon to happen I WHEREAS For several years I last past there has been no change in the general state levy of 24 21 mills nor in the state high school levy of 2 of a mill but the state district school levy has increased from rom 46 16 mills in 1929 1920 to 47 mills in 1930 and 56 mills in 1931 which seems to be excessive and beyond the ability of the taxpayers taxpayer er ers to pay and we respectively urge the state tax commission not only not to increase the rate of tn taxation mUon on any property of the state but to permit lower assessments assessments assessments assess assess- ments in valuation on both real realand realand and personal property because too teo high taxes has destroyed tangible tangible tan tan- gible property values and we desire desire desire de de- de- de sire to restore property to normal values WHEREAS In Duchesne County County County Coun Coun- ty School District in 1920 the general and building fund levy was 11 mills A special levy was authorized authorized authorized au au- by a general election of 3 mills for three years to pay I building Indebtedness in the sum I Continued on page 4 1 1 DUCHESNE CO TAXPAYERS Continued from page 1 of which was to be pai paid I and was paid in the sum of 18 in 1927 in 1928 and in 1929 However to the I credit of the school board the levy was not higher than mills during the said three years of special lev levy but since said time the levy has been for the general genera and building fund 12 mills which is beyond the ability of the taxpayers taxpayers taxpayers tax tax- payers to pay and should be reduced reduced reduced re re- re- re to probably 9 mills or less without raising the levy for other purposes AND WHEREAS Duchesne County School District employs about 72 teachers at a salary expense expense ex ex- pense per month of about at the average cost per teacher of approximately per month or for eight months a total of approximately approximately approximately ap ap- ap- ap proximately more or less The lowest salary Is 70 per month and the highest is per month There arc are 14 teachers whose salaries arc are from to per month and 34 teachers whose salaries are from to 1 O per month and 24 21 teachers more or less who receive less than I per month and the lowest 70 per month In our best judgment judgment judg judg- ment the salaries above per month should be cut 20 per cent those above per month and to per month shout cut 15 per cent and the salaries of per month and less should be cut 5 per cent AND WHEREAS There has been a world depression in business business business busi busi- ness including the United States caused by bad trade relations taxation over-taxation and other causes which has depressed values in all tangible property and intangible as well but that school and other salaries have not been reduced which has had the of raising raising raising rais rais- ing salaries during the depression which tends to destroy the homes in which the children live and only about 50 per cent of the taxes are paid in Duchesne County County County Coun Coun- ty and expenses must be reduced or the condition will Immediately become worse worse instead of better Wherefore W We Ve e demand a substantial substantial substantial sub sub- reduction in valuations of all tangible property for taxing purposes and also a reduction in inthe inthe inthe the rates of assessment and we demand this of the State Tax Commission of the County Assessor Asses Asses- sor of the County Commissioners and of the County School Board and we say Bay especially to the County County County Coun Coun- ty School Board that because of its having near autocratic powers in levying taxes tates that it is scarcely responsible to anybody other than the people and therefore we make this special demand on the school board that it reduce the school tax very substantially because it itis itis itis is better to reduce school salaries and expenses than it is to destroy the homes where the school children children chil chil- dren live The country is being destroyed by over taxation and we emphatically demand a very substantial reduction in taxes and that cannot be done without reducing reducing re re- re- re s school hool expense |