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Show County tax level 'up in the air9 to Burt Nichols on the Richardson Building, near the racetrack in Parowan.' The commission approved the drafting of a resolution, in conjunction with the Air Force, stating a desire on lienalf of the county to be involved in the planning process, if MX is based in the area. By MIKE CANNON Record Reporter j Property taxes in Iron County will l)e higher next year, but nobody knows by how much. ' vty,. Those still in doubt include state government officals, the state' tax commission and a frustrated G. Steven Grimshaw, Iron County Assessor. An up in the air situation still exists concerning the property tax level in Iron County and throughout the state. Meanwhile, the deadline for notification draws ever closer, with no one quite certain what the final decision of the state will be. The State Tax Commission originally notified Iron County that property taxes were t to be increased 29 percent for next year. Then the state legislature got into the act. Solons passed a bill designed to lower residential property taxes by a 20 percent figure. This would have meant a net tax increase of 9 percent, according ac-cording to Grimshaw, significantly lower than the original 29 percent increase in-crease mandated by the tax commission. com-mission. Things were looking rosier until last week when the state attorney general advised Governor Scott M. Matheson that the bill including the 20 percent reduction is unconstitutional. Even before this advisement there was considerable doubt as to whether Matheson would endorse the measure. An emergency county commission meeting was promptly called Friday to decide what action Assessor Grimshaw and the county would take. Grimshaw and his staff had already begun the tedious process of putting the reduction into affect, utilizing the county's an-tiqated an-tiqated manual system. The commission, after collaboration with Grimshaw and County Attorney James L. Shumate, elected to precede with the original order from the tax commission to stick taxpayers with the 29 percent increase. Grimshaw is currently going ahead with the tax rolls, using the 29 percent figure. Additional problems could arise if the bill that includes the portion calling for the 20 percent reduction is indeed signed and upheld in court as being constitutional. If the matter isn't settled by the summer setting of mill levies, the possibility of refunds for residential owners might have to be built into the levies. In a related matter, Grimshaw told the commission in their Mar. 25 meeting that he was pleased by a legislative measure which would turn the bulk of local reappraisal over to the county. The signing and upholding of this measure is also currently in doubt. A linal legislative matter, reported on by Grimshaw, dealt with a 106 percent limitation on revenue collec-" collec-" lion: All tax unite in the county assessed at an increase of more than 10 percent will fall into this category. ,ln other Commission action, a proposal was presented by Reginald llughes, administator of the Valley . V iew Medical Center, to rent two courthouse rooms for a Parowan Clinic. The Commission approved the rental, ut a cost of $170 per month. Attempts are being made to establish a clinic in Parowan with the cooperation of the Little Salt Lake Clinic. The temporary clinic would be stalled by physicians from Cedar City al the outset. Hopefully, there would be sulficient support to entice a permanent per-manent physician to reside in Parowan and ultimately construct a permanent lacility. Hughes remarked, "We'll do everything w we can to make this a united community el fort." In other agenda items, a delegation Irom Garfield County requested that lunds I) be alloled lor keeping the Panguitch Lake-Brianhcad road open year-round. Alex Mansour, Irom the Utah Department ol Transportation, provided cost estimates lor year-round plowing and maintenance. Recreation advocates Irom Brianhead and Panguitch Lake desire lo advertise lhat there is year-round accessibility lo both resort areas, said the de legal ion. Commission members elected to lurther examine the feasibility of the proposal k'lore formally acting upon it. In other business - A petition was presented, signed by one-third of the registered voters residing in Summit, asking that the area be designated a special improvement im-provement district. Residents desire lhat a new water lank and water system be installed to better meet water needs. Summit homes are currently suffering from poor water pressure and occasional contamination. con-tamination. The Commission recommended the establishment of a special service district and ordered the public hearing process to be conducted. The Commission granted approval lo use $1,500 in previously budgeted lunds to re-equip and furnish a stand-by ambulance lor the county. The Commission a approved a new . manager lor the county council on aging. Leora Bannus was approved, pending final council approval. - The commissioners granted a lease |
