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Show Taxation Changes Throughout State Told In "Taxpayer" Reduction In Taxes Traced To State, Not County or City; Hidden Taxes Take Big Share of Income According to the current number num-ber of the "Utah Taxpayer", which was issued this week, out of the 172 cities and towns in this state, only 2 5 reduced their local levies. Out of the 2 9 counties, coun-ties, 13 reduced their local levies, and out of the 40 school districts, 11 decreased their local levies. Of the remaining number, 108 cities and towns made no change, On the other hand, increases were made in 11 counties, 11 school districts and in 29 cities and towns. In addition to thisT 11 newly incorporated cities and towns made levies for the first time in their history. The net relief, therefore, to the owners of tangible property, came largely from the reduction of 3.5 mills in the state levy. This, according to the "Taxpayer" "Tax-payer" corrects the prevalent opinion opin-ion that the lower tax burden on tangible property this year, was due largely to the decreases in local levies. Editorially the "Taxpayer" comments on this situation and warns the taxpayers against undue un-due optimism. Reference is made to the skyrocketing sky-rocketing of indirect taxes from $4,251,812.00 in 1933, to $9,-814,011 $9,-814,011 in 1936, a jump of $5,-500,000.00. $5,-500,000.00. So that while there is a decrease in tangible property taxes, there has been a radical increase in-crease in the indirect taxes, with the probable net result that the taxpayers will be paying even more than ever for the upkeep of state and local government. Taxpayers are therefore urged to keep their eye on the indirect as well as on the direct taxes. "It is the direct taxes", said the publication, "that thus far has been able to arouse a tax ccniciousness, while comparative indifference has been shown toward to-ward the other taxes which are now becoming more burdensome and more onerous than the general gen-eral property tax, from which temporary relief has been given". Taxpayers are also urged to consult the legislators that come from their respective districts, before be-fore the session begins, for a mature, careful discussion of legislation leg-islation that is intended to promote pro-mote our gpneral economic welfare. |