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Show Bountiful to get more sales tax from state, but... BOUNTIFUL - Bountiful Council was trying to be optimistic last Wednesday night. It had just been advised by City Recorder Arden Jenson that the State had approved the one-percent (less l64th percent) local option sales tax for next fiscal year. This would mean tens of thousands of dollars additional revenue for the city. But the council had a difficult time accepting the announcement "We're still skeptical about what happened in years past, and I don't think you can blame us, ' ' explained Councilman Harold Shatter . "We heard similar stories that the city would be getting its share of the allotted sales tax, but for some reason or another we never got it The governor always found another place for some of the funds to l go. Shafter noted that in 1982, a portion of the sales tax was diverted from the cities to state flood repair. Later it was used for financing projects of higher education, and in 1985 it was used for purchase of the large pumps to lower the water level of the Great Salt Lake. "It was always something," said Shafter. "So I'm trying not to get overly excited this year not until we have the money in our account. ac-count. Maybe things will be different this year. I hope so, but I'm not counting on it. " It was emphasized that the state sales tax has always been allocated, even earmarked, to various agencies but in recent years I some of the funds have not been used for the purpose for which they J were collected. I In fiscal-year 1989, Bountiful was to have received .90615 percent I of the total sales tax collected within the city. This has been increased to .984375 percent of the 6.25 percent sales tax collected on goods and services projected for next fiscal year. On a dollar-basis, this year's anticipated revenue from the state sales tax is $2.95 million, of which $1.2 million has been paid, but this does not include tax on December sales, it was explained The state sales tax is divided into four entities the largest being for state purposes. Also receiving funds are cities, the mass transit system, and the U.S. Olympic Committee, according to Ira Todd, city treasurer. |