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Show iHfc August, the miU levy for the general fund remains at the Present level - 10.20 mills. This is against an assessed valuation of $101 million. The requests from department heads for a 1977 Utilities are each year by the state tax commission and the percentage over the years has decreased substantially. In the breakdown presented by Mr. Chase, utilities Payment In Lieu Of Taxes budget js presently being finalized by the commission. About 0,000 additional will be available for the 1977 budget and the commission committed most of the money for salary increases and fringe account for 25.24 percent; residential, 27.11 percent; commercial, 21.03 percent; agricultural, 19.64 percent; motor vehicles, 6.15 percent and miscellaneous, .56 percent. May Bring Tax Reduction "We really want and would like to see the taxpayer get a break from the of taxes but payment-in-liethe one pitfall I see is a tax reduction in the utilities," For County Residents benefits. When questioned about a complete county library Chase said, "I think we considered getting involved in the library system before and I think we would be willing to consider it again. We are certainly getting a lot of proposals from a lot of different areas but at this time, we cannot make any commitments. In other county business Tuesday, the commission opened the public hearing at 10:30 a.m. on the federal revenue sharing budget to disperse $66,000 to county departments. Thirty minutes later, the u The $730,000 Payment in Lieu of Taxes that Box Elder County will receive beginning with the federal government's new fiscal year was discussed openly with some reservations at the commission meeting Tuesday and Chairman Don E. Chase when asked about priorities after the funds are received said "so far as I am concerned, the first one will be a tax reduction." Of the 29 counties in the state, Box Elder County heads the list for the allocation from the government. With the expected $730,000 annually plus the $265,000 coming to the county under the federal revenue sharing program, the commission will realize nearly $1 million for county operations. The Payment in Lieu of Taxes as passed has no strings attached. Revenue Sharing must be budgeted separately and cannot be used for labor purposes. Mr. Chase explained the "payment is a real God-sen- d to us and it has been a long time coming." How long? "This actually began 30 years ago and I have traveled throughout the western states as a member of the Public Lands Law Review Committee when hearings were held. I must have attended over 100 meetings in the last eight years," the chairman said. . The language of House Resolution 9719 was introduced by Colorado Representative Frank Evans on September 19, 1975. It was by Utah's rep resentatives K. Gunn McKay and Alan Howe. According to Mr. Evans, the tax immunity of the public lands places an unfair burden on the taxpayers within the counties where the lands are located. The Public Land Law Review Commission best summed up the need for this legislation when it recommended the lands be retained in federal ownership but that the obligation of the burdens should be spread among all the people of the United States and not borne by those states and governments in whose area the lands are located. More than 1,000 counties in the 48 states are impacted by large holdings of tax mill levy but we can't say safely because we have to keep the budget going. We could make a substantial cut but what happens if we cut the mill levy by four mills? About 26 percent of our taxes come utilities and will Utah Power and Light Company lower the power rates in Box Elder County? Will the railroads cut the rates in Box Elder County?" Chairman Chase added. The commission noted it has plenty of places for the new incoming funds and the chairman concluded. .."I think it should be shared. We need to study this thing to find out how much should be returned and how much should be shared. We just haven't got it yet." Box Elder County's current General Fund budget is estimated at $2.1 million. By commission action in ' jX" exempt federally owned lands. Box Elder County has more than one million acres of Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service lands. Chairman Chase stated that there are some questions on the state level if in fact some of the funds are due school boards? Mr. Chase answered: "We checked with national and state organizations and we found it is for county use with no strings attached. Counties can use it as they see fit. None on the state level can see why they (school boards) should be involved. However, I don't blame them. They have federal programs in schools and we never ask them for any of their money." On the priority of cutting the taxes, Chairman Chase said "we intend to cut the commission unanimously voted to adopt the budget giving the road department $30,000 for equipment and tires. The County Surveyor will begin signing key roads in the county based on the approval of $5,000 for signs. Commissioner Ted Burt said the road department will install the post and signs and another man will probably be hired to assist with the program. He said it will be an ongoing program until the entire county has signs, mostly at intersections. The Weed Department will have a new building at the road sheds in Elwood costing $16,000 and the commission also approved $1,000 for a fence at the Plymouth landfill. Following directives under the new fiscal procedures act for counties, the commission approved $11,000 for a disc system to be added to the county's computer sys- tem. County Clerk K.B. Olsen said the addition of the approved equipment will increase the operations of the system for the clerk, assessor and treasurer. The last order of business transacted by the commission Tuesday morning was in the county's favor. The State Tax Commission ruled in favor of Box Elder County on an appeal filed by the Corporation of the Episcopal Church in Utah. This involved the taxing of a residence occupied by a minister and owned by the church corporation. church officials brought the matter to the county commission that sits in as the Board of EqualizatThe ion. They asked for immun- ity. The request was denied and forwarded to the state tax commission for review and opinion. The tax commission ruled "it was not exclusively dedicated to religious worship." LOST i ' One m-M- girl's 20-in- bi- cycle, green and white flowered fenders. Re- m . .GOOD CROWDS HAVE turned out for swine flu clinics held locally. Above: Winford Barrus gets his shot from the county nursing during the last of two clinics conducted at Bear River Junior High by the Bear River Health Department. ward offered. Phone 257-337- Tremonton. 5 Frank Blum. LfcAUfclK-GAKLAN- Food Handler's A food i, Tost Sot TIMfcs, novemoer li handlers test rage Leona Lundstrom, will be conducted Nov. 16 from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Bear River District Health Department, 102 So. Tremont, in the Tremonton Civic Center assembly room. The written examination and TB test will be administered at a cost of $1 by Mrs. n. 3 district sanitarian. All persons who handle food who do not have a food handler's permit are to avail themselves of this opportunity. These permits last for a period of two years and are required by Utah State law. ooooooooooooooooooog o SVB1IVV g o o "soffivg o O o Italians have a special way with q o leather, turning glovey, and crafting J o into some of the smartest, most footwear. So, goes Weyport o supple Ji to to this soft Italian for it it o 0 o o o o bring you Italy j mnrratiitv thp flflrln Hariri stitchina accentuates the moc front, and a touch of Renaissance bronze enriches the strap. La soffice vita for your feet. o o o o o o o o o o o o o TUBS MOCCS n o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o O '36 EED Tiemonton, 12 West Main JUtah o o o o o o o o ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo r r r ni i if v rvn r i n n r " C 0 n ii x-- "v . ( r Saturday, November 20th at 2 p.m. The following sponsors are giving away 64 turkeys 3 Norlands I Shoe Glen I r MM mm i mnir n r i if " vv j. IPll1 Ihr. red light in B must be present Allen Realty 2 Classic , ni ' w "W 2 Allen Meat 5 Safeways 2 Heidi House 1 Verl's Auto 2 Vyler Jewelry 2 Coast To Coast 1 Tremonton ST Savings and Loan 3 Fronk Chevrolet 4 Cowley's I Carlson Paint 4 Gepharts 2 Buttons & Bolts I Viestern Auto 1 Bear River State Bank I Dream Girl Fashions I Shauna's Beauty Salon I Four Seasons Supply 1 Don's Furniture I Enrols American 1 Crump Viheatley I Flowerlcne Floral 1 Millers Jewelry 2 Boxtcutt Florcl I Bear River Drug 1 Lowell's Conoco Names will be drawn out of each box that is in these stores making your chances Southwick Realtors 2 Leader Publishing J Golden Bowl Dr. John 0. Hurley $10.00 1 really good. oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooi id 1 Foxy Fashion 2 Hamilton 1 May's Shop 1 OK Tire Shop 5 Carl & Don's 1 11DOOO oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo - |