Show Our rain storms this year seem to like special outdoor events The Utah fishing season was moved up three weeks because of the drought and on the opening day we received one of our best spring rains During the Fourth of July holiday Monday it rained most of the day These rains have been worth millions and have come at a time when the lawns and crops are really dry This year rainy days are needed much more than hot dry ones and if it will rain on holidays that's fine lets let's have more holidays Some interesting statistics were presented in m the current Utah Taxpayer monthly bi-monthly news folder In comparing the property properly tax bill on an appraised appraised ap ap- ap- ap pra praised home in 1975 the state average in Massachusetts was 1316 New Jersey 1276 Nevada Colorado Idaho Arizona Wyoming and Utah Only Wyoming was lower than the average property tax in Utah The Utah T Taxpayer er also gave some interesting figures concerning concerning con con- the growth of schools in inthe inthe inthe the state During the school year just ended there were students attending classes during the school year During the comparable period in 42 1941 there were The number of teachers comparing these two school years went from to whose average salary went from just over 1500 a year to o The teacher pupil-teacher ratio went from to and total expenditure per pupil rose from to 1310 In 35 years our schools have more than doubled the number of students but the amount we spend per pupil has increased over ten times In 76 1975 national figures showed Utah spent 1084 for each student in public schools for 43 place in the nation But Utah rated fifth place in the nation for its tax effort for our public schools In 76 1975 Utah school revenues were million and the personal income of the state was billion for percent Only New York Minnesota Alaska and Vermont Vermont Vermont Ver Ver- mont made more tax effort for public education These Thes figures may not mean much but at budget time a few statistics like these may make us feel a little better about the increase necessary for tax supported entities entitles The Vernal Municipal Airport manager conducted a practice fire drill at the airport last week and we came away very impressed impressed im pressed with the speed of those responding to the drill In an art aircraft fire we were told it is a matter of seconds that determine whether or not the craft and Victims are consumed by flames If fire equipment can reach an aircraft aircraft air air- craft fire before it gets too hot it itcan Itcan itcan can get the fire out but if the fire gets going it is a foregone conclusion that property and lives will be lost So speed is essential in extinguishing aircraft aircraft air air- craft fires The new fire station and chemical truck at the airport and the volunteer response from the personnel of the two fixed base operators and Frontier airlines gives the Vernal Vema I airport excellent fire protection We hope a large aircraft fire never happens but if it does trained volunteer firefighters fire firefighters firefighters fighters with proper equipment will be tI at the scene within two or three minutes after they are called This is another plus for Vernal's growing airport |