Show r Business Activities Energy firm faces impact aid options Requests for Impact aid by local government leaders eventually become hard business decisions for energy com com- companies companies granting the aid That aspect of doing business has become a normal part of doing business for energy companies that have seen the effects of their industry on cities and counties and on their workers To put it simply a happy worker is a productive worker according to Jack Lyman director of external affairs for White River Shale Oil Corp Workers and their families live better if communities can satisfy their needs for leisure time or public services Lyman collected impact aid requests in Uintah County this week He will make a presentation to the White River Corp partner companies In mid December From that point on the company will have to decide the best way to distribute aid to the benefit of the firm The decision will involve use of oC tax tax ad ad- ad advantages vantages The rules vary from state to state For example explained Lyman the only type of aid White River Corp can give In Colorado is an out and grant If it can be tied to a certain year of im im- im impacts pacts than can be written off as an ex- ex penile pence of doing business he said In Utah White River Corp has the op- op option op- op option tion of prepayment pre of property tax covering a certain number of years Pro Pro- Property petty perty taxes of course are tax deductible Still another option said Lyman would have White River Corp agree to purchase bonds issued by municipal governments Interest on municipal l bonds is tax free In the case of helping the Uintah Coun- Coun County County ty Library White River Corp could become a charter member of a support community organization The annual membership fee could be deducted We have to make sure we agree con con- conceptually with what Is proposed by local governments said Lyman Partners In the White River project are Standard Oil Co of Ohio P Phillips Petroleum and Sun Ener Energy y Co Some decisions about impact aid may Include helping local governments get aid from another source For example said Lyman White River Corp could provide leverage for requests to the utah Community Development Impact Board |