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Show Legislative session gets good marks The Utah Legislative session just concluded was "one of the best organized, one of the least politically oriented and moved smoother than any that I have participated in," reported S. Garth Jones, representative represen-tative from Iron and Kane Counties. One of the major legislative items was the tax reduction program that was implemented by the' legislature, Jones reported. "Until such time as the constitutionality can be changed it was ,. necessary," he stated "that the tax relief be given as credit on income tax on a percentage basis of property tax paid," he said. Tax Credit Under the bill home owners will be given a tax credit not less than $100 and not more than 300 while renters will be eligible for a tax credit of $65, he reported. "I'm not in favor of collection and returning tax money," . Jones emphasized, em-phasized, "but hopefully that necessity will be relieved with the constitutional change that will be voted on in November. Aside from the budgetary items the legislature wholeheartedly supported the "Sagebrush Rebellion" bill in-. troduced. in the Senate by Senator Ivan Matheson. The bill, as amended and passed, would set up a special committee for the governance of government, local public officials, and the state entity to make a two year study on who assumes control of the land and what land should be retained in state ownership. The work of the committee com-mittee would be disolved on completion com-pletion of the study. The intent is that the state would honor all treaties, permits, or any legal transactions that have heretofore been put in place, Senator Matheson explained. Cha Henge expected It is anticipated that the legislation will be challenged in the court but it does take a step toward returning control of lands within the boundaries of the state back to the sta te and away from federal control. Representative Jones further indicated in-dicated that the legislature did authorize $25 million water bonds to be . issued that would provide for a number of medium' sized water projects in the state. Among those included would be the Kolob Water Development being proposed by Cedar City Corporation. In the field of energy the legislature did provide for a series of incentive programs that would help with the implementation of the development of tar sands through a pilot program and lor the development of gasoline as well. Additionally the legislature, Rep. Jones stated, the legislature took some action to place in line some compensations from the proposed IPP project including pre-development pre-development funds, in lieu taxes and a gross receipt tax. Percentage Increases Relative to salary increases the legislature approved a 11 percent increase for state employees. That included both public and higher education with local boards and institutional in-stitutional councils to be given latitude on just how those funds would be expended. In conclusion Representative Jones stated "that I had more public input during this brief session than in any other session in which I have participated. par-ticipated. It was a welcome experience ex-perience to see and hear from people who are concerned about and involvement in-volvement in the legislative process." |