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Show THE SENTINEL WW Needed: A governments to communicate If one local government approves a new subdivision and they don't tell the sewer district involved about it, it creates a problem for the sewer district, if the school district isn't forewarned of the project then there are problems for the schools. and judicial executive appropriations subcommittee. The appropriations subcommittee he serves on will be determining the budgets for the five state elective offices and the judicial system. One of the important aspects of their work this session, Rep. Rowe says, is judicial salaries. "I don't think with this being a very conservative year that we will make a very great increase," he says. However, because Utah's justices are paid less than justices in other Western states and because they can make more money in private practice, the state could have a problem in the future attracting qualified women and men to the positions. He says salary increases need to be balanced against bugetary limitations, however. Concerning tax cuts, Rep. Rowe says he favors an elimination or cut in property taxes over a cut in sales taxes. Elimination of the sales tax would relieve citizens of a $45 million while tax burden, elimination of the property tax The board that is determining the future development of the sewage treatment plant is faced with many problems that more all of the between communication communities could take care of. The Salt Lake County Council of Governments would seem to be an obvious place to take of discussion of these problems but that group doesn't even recognize the school districts or some of the other taxing units in the valley. Besides the original intent of the council of governments, that of reviewing requests and grants from various government agencies, should be able to keep them plenty busy. No one outside of this area is really concerned with what goes on here. At times they would like to take over and control what is happening in the local areas but once they are rejected they lose interest. It is up to local officials to provide a forum for communication between the local government agencies to solve problems before they develop and to work out solutions to current problems that have a strickly local affect. relieve would them of million in taxes. approximately Besides the obvious dollar difference, citizens would receive more benefit from the property tax $100 . benefit Any at the grocery store experienced would soon be eaten up by rising food costs. Moreover, the problems associated with administering a sales' tax on some items and not others might cause grocers to raise prices to cover their administration elimination. costs. The elimination of proprty taxes would last forever unless another legislature decided to. reimposeit.hesays. However, the elimination of property taxes on primary residences would require providing additional sources of revenue for local governments and school districts. Rep. Rowe says it is to one percent possible that one-haof the state's sales tax revenues lf local to could be given governments. Schools would also have to receive more of their funding from the state, possibly 80. percent instead of the current 70 percent. annexation Concerning legislation, Rep. Rowe says he would like to see some legislation to prevent cities from leaving islands and areas outside of city boundaries that are too far from county services to be served. However, he says he would like cities to retain the right to grow so long as they take the residences along with the revenue producing areas. He says he has not yet studied the proposed annexation legislation enough to know how he will vote on it. Rep. Rowe says he also favors Just "Ct ?s3qf lUa't Jim Landers By By&vtoBodlock I know how to spell, find Luxembourg on the mappy. But it isn't like mama taught me at all." No. Spanky was most surely not happy. Spanky thought about complaining to dad, Certainly he could do something About trying to reverse this trend in the school And bring back the job to the "dumb thing." d But the said, "Naw, middle school's next. It could never be depressing or red-hea- be?" "No, no," she assured. "We send Why, when I get there, I won't open one text, I'll show them that I can stay you to school Because there, you will truly be So on to sixth grade Spanky went "Mama, will I sad happy!" with resolve happy!" The month of August soon chugged up the tracks And found Spanky in school having fun. "This is great!" he thought. "Eating crackers and milk. I can hardly wait 'til grade one!" The year zoomed by, Spanky learned how to mingle, He learned to be tough and be scrappy. Days spent in groups where togetherness was taught Took Spanky through Kinder most happy. But then came along grades one and two, And the enjoyment goal started to turning; For, in place of crackers and naps on dry towels, There was reading and writing real learning. "What gives here?" thought Spanky, scratching his head. "I was just gettin' used to my nappy. Something tells me I've got a whole lot to learn If this stuff's gonna make me Determined to keep himself grinning;. But when the first teacher yelled, "Snap to it, son!!" Spanky's grinning melted into has- beening. The rest of the year went from bad to worse; He was sad as could ever a lad be. And even though he learned oh so much, The boy just couldn't get happy. His parents were noticing all that , happy..." Grades three through five continued the trend As happiness shifted its gears, And Spanky learned school wasn't quite like he'd thought, "I ain't happy like I was in past years." "I'm getting 'A's," he said. "And wenton. And asked Spanky to please ex- plain His unhappiness in the face of all his good grades; Why should he ever complain? "Dad and mom," he sobbed, a tear on his nose, "I beg of you, please don't slap me. But they work me so hard, I've no time to relax; They don't leave enough time to be happy." . "Why,, whenever we go to study the world, Teacher asks questions 'bout where the North Pole is ; And I tell her I know (she makes me study enough), So she says, 'We'll see on the next quiz'." Enraged, Spanky's mama said to his dad, "What in the world are they Spanky sad, When it's enjoyment they should be pursuing.'0 Fuming, mom and pop ran and jumped in the car And they roared on down to the school. "We'll get that teacher and principal," they said. "We'll show them a golden rule!" . The pair stormed into the principal's room; "We want changes! And you make it snappy!! Our boy's been coming here almost a year, And still little Spanky ain't happy!" sappy. somewhat, He groaned, '. How often lately I can years more." Sensing he'd soon be restricted 2 do- ing" With all this study they make The principal tried to calm the two down, He even called in the teacher. But when she got there, reason's cupboard was bare, And the parents proceeded to bleach her. Finally the two decided to leave ; A report card left on teacher's Iappy; "There," they said. "Take this meaningless thing. Just do your job and make Spanky happy!" The teacher and her boss, eyes glued to the door, Sat there in thought for a second Then teacher got up and started to go, By an English class she was beckoned. "I sure hope," she said as she walked out the door, "That not every parent is that way. Or we'll never be able to teach those kids What they must, learn to be happy." "Well," sighed the principal, shaking his head. "I'm afraid there's a bad trend More and more folks are casting us out, When supporting us they should be doing. Hmmm. Oh well," he said with a chuckle. "They'll always find some way to rap me. But one day soon I hope parents will learn That together WE help Spanky be happy." have you heard politicians say "Why our budget will only maintain our present level of services." Those politicians haven't yet received the message of the tax revolt. The tax revolt doe n't just say cut taxes. It sa we have ' too mut i government and we don need or want the present level of services. It says that government is too bit and needs to get out of the private lives of individuals and businesses. Looking over the stack of bills that have been filed in the state legislature leaves me with the feeling that easily half of them should be thrown out completely. Many are just pet peeves of individual legislators and others are simply useless wastes of time. the bills Most of proposed have to go through the office of a legislative fiscal analyst and who ever works there determines whether or not the particular bill will require tax dollars to implement. Take House Bill 30 in this year's session as an example. In summary the bill says that it "requires graduates of secondary schools to demonstrate, before Rep. Dix H. McKuHia some type of control being placed on the way school districts spend their money. However, he says he is hot yet familiar enough with HB 42 to know if it will accomplish the purpose. He favors HRl, the resolution, informing the federal government that Utah has already considered the ERA, and HB41, making an unlawful abortion a case of criminal homicide. Rep. Rowe is sponsoring a bill that will especially benefit fast growing areas of the state, including the south valley. His proposed legislation provides that population estimates used for the purpose of allotting collector road funds can be made every year, instead of every five years. Rapidly growing areas, such as Sandy, would receive more money as their population increased instead of waiting for a new five-yeestimate. Rep. Rowe is encouraging citizens in his district to let him know their opinions on proposed legislation 4 either by calling his home, or the legislature, ar 255-197- 533-481- 4. $e.E Verlkay . Sen. E. Verl Asay, representing West and South Jordan and the Kearns area, is concerned about expenditures for public education. A member of the public education appropriations subcommittee, he says he intends to visit some public schools to determine where money is being spent unnecessarily. Republican Dix H. McMuilin is serving his second term in the House of Representaties. The South Jordan legislator is chairman of the transportation and public safety committee, member of the public education standing committee, and of the social services appropriations subcommittee. Rep. McMullin is sponsoring a property tax cut bill, HB76, that would refund property taxes paid during the last three years that exceeded 106 percent of the amount paid the previous year. The money for the rebates would come from the state surplus. The bill would also limit property tax increases to six percent over the preceding year. However, Rep. McMullin says he would rather see pass the GOP's proposal of totally eliminating the property tax on primary residences. If that is not possible, he says he would like them to consider his tax cut bill. Rep. McMullin says he does not think the elimination of the property tax would require a constitutional amendment. Concerning the sales tax on food, Rep. McMullin says the large majority of the people he has asked say they would prefer relief from the property tax rather than from the sales tax. "I really feel the sales tax is a fair tax," he says. He also says that inflation would keep people from realizing the relief an elimination of the sales tax would bring. "I think that the great portion of Thing n Oct". -- Pog Rep. John B. Rowe Rep. John B. Rowe, a Republican from Midvale, is serving his first term in the state legislature. His include committee assignments natural and resources, energy judiciary, and local, state, and federal governments as well as the Governments throughout the south end of the valley need to have a convenient way to communicate with each other. Each of our local governments are doing things that have an effect on neighboring communities. red-haire- 1979 Thursday, January 18, L(igDDate(r9g feiraooui way for local Spanky Jones was born one night, d A baby boy, Pleasing his mother ever so much Her first little bundle of joy. Spanky 's father, a proud new dad, (And a very delighted pappy), Said, "There's only one thing I want for this boy; And that's for him to be happy." The years passed by and Spanky grew And suddenly he was four. "Next August you start your schooling," said mom. "Just kindergarten, then twelve : graduation, reasonable understanding of the fundamentals of the and history, principles institutions of the United States." sounds admirable . The and probably most of us support the idea that high school graduates should understand these subjects. But the legislative fiscal analyst writes on the back of the bill that "The requirements of this bill at both the State and local level can be accomplished with current personnel. It is estimated that minor costs for materials can be covered existing by funds." You want to bet? . What will happen? In each of the school districts throughout the state some school administrator will have to take time away from his regular duties to try to figure out what a understand- "reasonable Sea. Arnold Christe3M the tax dollar is being spent in the name of public education. We need to find out where the money is being actually spent so that we can cut back without affecting the education of our children," he says. Representing a huge area of land in the south valley is Arnold The first term Christensen. as is chairman Republican serving of the business, labor, and economic development committee, member of the social services committee, and of the transportation and public The first term senator says the buildings and furnishings of some school buildings are too elaborate. enhance - the "That doesn't education of our children," he says. safety - appropriations - sub- - committee. As of a the member transportation and public safety appropriations subcommittee, he has spent his first week of the session studying the budgets of such agencies as the National Guard and civil defense. Sen. Asay also supports the Republican plan of eliminating the property tax on primary residences. He says he might favor a token tax on the land, but nothing on improvements. Sen. Asay also believes the sales tax on food should be eliminated and a bill with Sen. is Frances Farley to remove it. To replace the revenue generated Sen. Christensen says he has been searching for ways to cut the Naitonal Guard budget but has found few. The federal government pays for most of its expenditures, with the state picking up only about two percent. The state's share only covers such expenses as utility bills at the armories. However, he says he will vote to cut state funding for tuition payments for National . Guard members. from these two sources, Sen. Asay believes the state income tax should be increased in the higher tax brackets, the liquor tax and cigarette taxes should be increased, sales taxes could be increased on other items, and luxury and excise taxes could be considered. Because local governments and school districts rely heavily on the property tax, its elimination would require the state to funnel more money to them, he says: However, he says he does not believe giving the state more control of the local purse strings would destroy local control. "It's so inequitable right now, that the state has to even it up," he says, referring to the differences in money contributed from various areas of the state. Sen. Asay also feels legislation is needed to require local school districts to report to the state on their expenditures. "I think a report to the state is absolutely necessary, so people know where the money is being spent," he says. Sen. Asay also serves as chairman of the judiciary standing committee. He says he hopes that legislation will be introduced so that more of the capital punishment sentences would be carried out. "I feel the majority of the people in the state want capital punishment and it needs to be carried out." . Sen. Christensen says the agency is asking for more money for tuition payments even though not enough people used the program last year to all the spend money appropriated. Moreover, the federal government is also offering their own program of benefits for National Guard members. "Why should it be funded on both the state and federal sides?" he asks. ' Concerning tax relief r Sen. Christensen says the best method to provide substantial tax relief to Utahns would be to eliminate the property tax. "I feel, personally, that the governor's message and his idea of giving sales tax reduction are not long term help and they would not give sufficient tax relief to Salt Lake County." 1 He favors totally removing the property tax on primary residences, is not sure yet if any relief could be afforded to apartment dwellers. "We can only give so many dollars." . ing" is. Then he will get all involved in the philsophy of teaching history and what the legislature really meant in their bill. ' And then months will be spent in preparing tests to make sure that every student has been exposed to the material. Then teachers If the legislature would simply pass one law, which is probably on the books somewhere, that simply says prepare our kids to be useful citizens and get sits' .back and . public wonders why the schools, down to the business of haven't been doing the job teaching without all of the of teaching these subjects falderal, it would cost everyone a lot less money. anyway. will have to receive the training to make sure that they know what their students will be instructed. But in the meantime the , . -- |
