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Show "CR UT PRESORT 174 16-2-F 123199 Single Copy 50 j by Steven Wailis Express Editor While the present pre-sent tax structure is not perfect, Jim Drollinger, Vernal CPA. warned . Vemal Chamber mem- Jim Drollinger, bers that the pro- CPA. posed flat tax could be worse. Currently those people filing tax returns with income of over $100,000 represent 5.8 percent of all tax returns and pay 54.5 percent of taxes collected. Those with incomes of over $200,000 present $1.5 percent of the tax return and pay 37.4 percent of taxes. "Will our society accept a tax increase and let the wealth off the hook of paying a high percent of their income in taxesf Drollinger asked. "It would appear to me that they won't." Rep. Dick Armey, who is again proposing a flat tax to Congress, is suggested that everyone's income would be taxed at 17 percent. The only exclusions would be for a couple, cou-ple, $25,000 income, and $5,300 for each dependent, not including spouses. Drollinger said the current tax structure does a reasonably good job of making sure those with similar simi-lar total incomes pay similar amounts in taxes and people with higher incomes pay morejn taxes... The flat tax would eliminate deductions deduc-tions to charities and interest payments. pay-ments. Under such a proposal, federal fed-eral deficits could increase as much at $40 to $160 billion a year. "How long can they have the deficits before they increase the r.t-.'.-v:K 'I c? .fSMM1 V.'-JV-.JV-J i y, I 9tJ I "'-V. , i Water savings to the Upper and Highline canals is projected to offset off-set the cost of piping or lining the two canals. ffoir caonaDs The Uintah Water Conservancy District has been working for years to improve the water delivery system sys-tem to lands that are served by the Highline and Ashley Upper canals. An area the district has investigated investigat-ed is several alternatives that would conserve irrigation water which is currently being lost due to seepage. The alternatives include lining or piping the Highline and Upper canals. On Tuesday, Oct 19, an information meeting will be held to discuss each of the alternatives. The shareholders and other interested parties should attend the meeting. The meeting w ill be at 7 p.m. at Western Park. The district has applied for and has been granted $6.5 million from WEDNESDAY, rate?" Drollinger questioned. "The flat tax would shift the majority of the tax burden away from the rich and puts it on the middle class," he said. The flat tax would simplify the tax system, but not because it ends progressive taxes, but because it ends deductions, credits, depreciation deprecia-tion allowances, and so on. "The complicated part of figuring one's taxes is calculating taxable income," Drollinger said. Drollinger said the present tax system is "very simple" for those with normal tax returns, but it is very complex for those with estates, considerable wealth and many deductions. Flat-tax supporters claim that its a single, low rate and large personal exemption would cut everyone's taxes. "This is false," according to M. Jeff Hamond, PPI economic policy pol-icy Analyst "Once again, a tax rate of more than 22 percent would be required to avoid expanding the deficit With the plan's elimination of all deductions, including mortgage mort-gage interest, charitable contributions, contribu-tions, state and local taxes, and medical expenses, a 22 percent flat tax with Armey's personal exemption exemp-tion would mean higher taxes for millions of middle-income families, as well as for the working poor and much lower taxes for wealthy investors." To eliminate income tax totally, a federal sales tax of 32 percent .would haYC.Jo.be implemented 4ft . offset the loss in revenue, Drollinger said. An interesting aspect of the flat tax debate is that the nation's largest businesses have been either opposed to the proposal or silent on the issue. This is because the flat "1 ,T the United States Bureau of Reclamation to fund the piping project. pro-ject. The funds are a grant, no obligation to repay the money, if the piping project is completed. Estimated costs for the evaluated alternatives range from $6.5 million to $12 million. "It is the District's goal to work with the irrigation companies to provide a better conveyance system on the west side of Ashley Valley," said Dave Rasmussen, general manager man-ager Uintah Water Conservancy District, . . - "It is our opinion that the piping project will be a may. step toward reaching our goal." UTAH PRESS ASSOCIATION 307 W 200 S KSOOS SLC, UT 84101 October 13, 1999 tax, as written, would drastically shift the tax burden within the business busi-ness community. The tax eliminate the deduction of interest, but allows for immediate expansion of new investment. While this policy may have some attractive aspects, moving mov-ing to it without a transition period would be a boon to industries with little debt but much new investment, invest-ment, such as high technology, while vastly increasing the tax burden bur-den on industries with high debt to investment ratios, such as the automotive auto-motive sector. Council undecided on sign The Vernal City Council is still undecided on what to put in the hands of Dinah to replace the Din-A-Ville Motel sign. The pink dinosaur was donated to the city by its owners. Mountain America Credit Union. Before moving the 40-foot dinosaur to its new location, the motel sign in it hands was removed. The city is taking suggestions as to what to put in its place. Last Wednesday the City Council leaned toward putting a dinosaur egg it her hands with a baby dinosaur coming out Another recommendation was to put a computerized sign to flash messages to motorists. The council was concerned that the lighted'sign ' might cause accidents. The council could make a decision on the sign as soon as the next city council meeting, Oct 20. Caimdidiaties vie Six candidates have filed for three upcoming vacancies on the Vemal City Council. Three incumbents, JoAnn Cowan, Alan Mashbum and Matthew Foley have filed for the positions besides Cal Dee Reynolds, D. Roger Hacking and Judy Kraft The three candidates with the most votes in the Nov. 2 election will be seated on the city council. - Candidates responses to two questions are: . "Why are you running for officer and "What do I hope to accomplish if elected?" Judy Kraft, Vemal native, said she is running because she has always been interested in the happenings hap-penings of Vemal City. "I want the chance to listen to the needs of the residents and take positive action." Once in office she said that "By serving on the council and the various vari-ous boards I hope to have a hand in making the decisions that affect all of us in the Uintah Basin." JoAnn Cowan, who has served three terms on the council, said she is running again because she has made a big commitment to see that the Cobble Rock Park is completed. complet-ed. The park is planned for the southeast comer of Main and Vemal Ave. "I enjoy serving on the council," she said. "I am also concerned about the future of the Police Department." That is w hy she has served on the city's Public Safety Committee. Cal Dee Reynolds said he filed for office because now that he is semi-retired, he hopes to have more time for community service. "I've always wanted to do community com-munity service but couldn't because of shift work," he said. "Now 1 have the time to be more involved." Reynolds said he dews not want to "change the world" once he is in office, "I don't claim to know all the answers, and I am not running because I am mad at someone or Check Inside Vernal, Utah 84078 """Ski Fire fighters contain blaze to the is totaled. Pirolto dletiirirYuuiris fire caused by ffayitiy ware mi g Vemal Police and fire units responded to an early morning fire Wednesday at the Grapevine Boutique located at 45 South Vemal Avenue. The blaze was called in by a passing motorist at approximately 4:50 a.m. ,-.T4.inulUpJLalann fire consumed the entire boutique structure and contents. Additional smoke and water damage was suffered by the Dez Murray's Sporting Goods want to kick them out of office. I just think it is my turn to serve the public." Matthew Foley said he is running for office because he would like to see the construction of a new sewer treatment facility to conclusion. "At $19 million it is a lot of money," Foley said. The sewer treatment facility, which began construction this summer, is expected to be complete com-plete in the year 2001. "I make one or two trips a week to the site to make sure the inspector on the projects pro-jects is representing out best interests." inter-ests." Foley, who has three terms on the city council, has represented Vernal City on the Sewer Board for the past 12 years. "It would be tough to bring a new person up to Judy Kraft Matthew Foley Oktoberfest celebration...page 14 WJIi student achieve ....... page 3 Students help retire Cag .-.page 7 Galley retire after 50 years page 7 Golfers clinch 6th page 18 Government formation page 20 O . j Grapevine Boutique, but are unable property adjacent to the boutique. Total loss estimates for structures and contents are pending. No personal per-sonal injuries were -sustained. The fire shut the power off to-most to-most of the downtown area for about an hour. Merchants were kept from their shops fnr- mo f the " morning until the fire was extinguished extin-guished A combined investigation bv the tfoir cifty speed on this project," Foley said. The board recently drained two of the sewer lagoons, the present treatment treat-ment facility, to abate the amount of selenium that is leaching into Ashley Creek. Foley said he would also like to continue w ith curb, gutter gut-ter and sidewalk projects and the improvements of city streets. Foley serves on the Uintah Basin Assistance Council that is building a 29-unit apartment complex for senior citizens at 1000 West Main and a duplex on 100 North. D. Roger Hacking said he is seeking seek-ing a position of the city council, "because it is time for some new blood and fresh ideas." "I am not running against any IT f- jl i ; I . . -""'"'wi.,.-. - s 1 V i i .Q M iiiiii i I.,.,.,,, Cal Dee Reynolds Alan Mashbum Express online: www.vernal.com 107th Year No. 41 20 Pages 0 CD '..Ml Vu- ft" 11 ..-safe j -"4-, J n5' photo fcy John Kay to save the building as the building Utah Slate Fire Marshall" Office, the Vernal Fire Department and the Yenul Police Department determined deter-mined the fire to he accidental due to an electrical problem in the Grape ine attic. . Fire and Police units were assisted "with fire suppression "and traffic control by the neighboring units in Naples and the Uintah County Sheriffs Department. office one." he said "I want to thank all those who hae taken the time to serve our city, and I am sure they had done their best. However. I believe that our founding fathers set up a government to be run b many different citizens and not by one gamp. So I feel we should change those who lead us often so that many different people may serve in the development of our communities." communi-ties." Candidate Mashbum could not be contacted "by press time Tuesday. All the candidates w ill be speaking at Tuesday Vemal Chamber of Commerce meeting, Oct. 19, at 12 noon at the Sc en-Eleven Ranch Restaurant Matthew Foley JoAnn Cowan Copy' T 1 |