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Show Emery County featuring S3 f When, not if, is the question to be answered on a coal severance tax for Utah, according to Gov. Scott M. Matheson. Matheson told members of the Board of Governors of the Salt Lake Area Chamber of Commerce this week that the implementation of a comprehensive severance tax policy is a needed component of effective growth management for Utah. Mathesons views on a severance tax are aired a little more than a the Utah Legislatures 1982 session convenes. The session will likely include a battle over the severance question. Utah is the single western coal producing state that has no coal severance tax. The state does charge a two percent extraction tax on oil and gas and one percent on metals. Matheson pushed for a two percent severance on coal, oil shale tar sands, sand and gravel in this years Legislative session. We have helped pursue longterm coal contracts, both in Utah and abroad, Matheson said. We have provided tax breaks on pollution control equipment and we have encouraged development of our natural resources through our laws and the administration of those laws. The application of a severance tax is consistent with our historical growth policies and our current emphasis on the proper management of growth. The tax breaks Matheson refers to come in the areas of pollution control equipment refunds and prepaid sales tax credit. Matheson said between 1976 and 1981, the Utah mine occupation tax collection totaled $17.8 million while refunds and tax credits came to more than $10 million during the same period. I cannot believe we (would be) overburdening Utah industry with a severance tax of two percent, Matheson said. Alene Bentley, Mathesons press secretary, said four of the larger mining companies have paid only $92,000 in corporate franchise tax this year while gleaning sales of more than $500 million. Two of those companies paid the The cold morning weather did not deter the early morning crowd that gathered to obtain a Christmas tree permit from the U.S. Forest Service Monday. Ranger John Niebergall said that the trees this year will be located in the Ferron Canyon area and that because of the recent drive vehicles snowfall, or snowmobiles should be used to get to the areas. The Pinion and Juniper trees are in the area between the Narrows el CASfLf W' (CUNt9 2, 1981 minimum tax of $25 a year, she added. Bentley said the need for a severance to go to impacted areas is exemplified by the $13 million in grant and loan requests from the impact board which only has $5 million. Matheson has been in agreement with many legislators on the need for imposing a severance tax, but arguments continue on where the tax monies will be put. The governor said Tuesday that revenues should go to three areas: d first, to meet the needs of communities; second, to a capital facilities account to service debt on capital bonds or to purchase capital facilities; and, third, to build a permanent trust fund, from which would be derived ongoing, dependable interest income. Rep. Mike Dmitrich, said Sen. Charles Bullen, has a proposed bill that has quite a bit of appeal among legislators. The bill would put 25 percent of the severance into the general fund and the rest into a trust account with the interest from that account going to impacted areas. Dmitrich said a two percent severance would not mean that much money for the state and would take money away from the impacted areas. He said the severance would lower gross profits and would in d turn lower the toward which tax goes property the local tax base. Increased rail rates and foreign competition have already hurt the overseas market for Utah coal and a severance would even further discourage the use of Utah coal abroad, Dmitrich said. Carbon Rep. John Garr, City, said that severance is a hidden tax and will hurt Utah residents and the states growth. I just dont think the severance will do what its really supposed to do, Garr said. Its if youre trying to look out for the economy. He said more revenue is gained in the impacted community from letting the coal industry come in and expand rather than imposing a tax on the industry and gaining tax state-assesse- st self-defeati- and Wrigley Springs. The Spruce and Fir trees are in the area surrounding Dairy Point and Lizard Lake. (See map.) When cutting the trees remember, cutting within 100 feet of the road is prohibited, tree stumps should not be higher than 12 inches and the tree should be no larger than 15 feet tall. The tree should be tagged before taken from the area and the bottom whorl of branches should be left on the stump. ri $? ' yj !L 4 v ' L'ii Chamber members Tuesday that even with the higher costs to mine underground coal, Utah is still competitive on the coal market. Some sources have counseled a delay in implementing a severance tax, at least on coal, until we are clearly a net importer. I am convinced that this is merely a diversion and not a legitimate response to the policy issue, he said. jli lit funding mechanisms. The need to provide water, sewers, roads, schools, fire and police protection and teachers will remain whether we impose a severance tax or not. If a portion of such funds do not come from a severance tax, Matheson continued, then Utah citizens will be required to pay the costs from other sources. Highest rent around Tenants in Emery County pay the highest median rent in Utah, a U.S. government report showed Tuesday. The median rent in the county is $223 a month, compared with $203 in Salt Lake County and $210 in Davis County. Statewide, the median rent is $187 a month, the report indicated Emery natives helpI LreekviCW grand opening Piute County nas the lowest median rent at $103, according to the report. Nationally, the median is $198 a month. The figures were determined from a canvass conducted by government census takers who asked tenants to report how much rent they paid monthly. Operation Santa Terry Rushton places a can for the Operation Santa Claus campaign in the Huntington Brothers Store in Castle Dale. The project is sponsored by Southeastern Utah Community Action Program, and will help approximately 500 families in the two county area. The money will be used to purchase food and gifts for needy families. EJeven agencies helped by UW Utah Southeastern agencies are going to reap the Eleven benefits from the United Way The official grand opening of campaign which is off and running Sears in the Creekview Center toward its $125,000 goal. Funds raised through the Monday brought the number of stores to 10 in Prices second campaign will be used in 1982 to provide support to the Carbon shopping center. The center gives Price and County Council on Aging, Carbon Carbon County residents an and Emery County Red Cross, alternative shopping center for the Castle Valley Workshop, Eastern Utah Families in Crisis, Emery Christmas rush. Frank Lupo, owner and manager County Aging Service, Retired of Frank Lupo Tires, was the first Senior Volunteer Program, Utah to open in the Creekview Center. In Alcoholism Foundation, Boy business five years in Price, he Scouts of Carbon and Emery County, YMCA and the Utah Lung opened his new store in March. Association. to in location With the change Creekview. sales have increased Recently added to the list of four times that of their original United Way agencies is the Carbon and Emery chapters of the location, according to Lupo. We have more room to work American Cancer Society under the leadership of Mrs. Mark ( Continued on Page 4 ) Hanson of the Carbon offices, said the gift is contributed to the United Way by U.S. Steel in the name of 170 wage employees. County chapter and Mrs. Dessie Oviatt of the Emery County chapter. To date, a number of cor- Lloyd Heath, Kaiser Steel Mine manager, said that Kaiser Steel Corporation has contributed $6,700 porations have come forth with their corporate gifts, according to United Way Southeastern Utah Chairman James Randolph. Atlantic Richfield Co., owner of the Beaver Creek Coal Co., has contrihntpd t? non to the campaign. The company is matching contributions made by employees of Beaver Creek on a two to one basis. U.S. Steel Mining Co., which to j a i feme A f sw . 4 J' 4. . At four-whee- this years campaign. Tom Rice, manager at Natomas Trail Mountain Coal Co., announced that his company has contributed $1,000. Mountain Fuel Supply Co. has joined the corporate supporters list with a $1,000 donation, according to James Brown, local office manager. The United Way is a locally includes district offices in East Carbon, the Geneva Mine and the controlled corporation that, Wellington Coal Preparation plant, through volunteers, raises funds for human service agencies that has contributed $1,500. Paul Watson, general operate in the Carbon and Emery at the district County area. superintendent I f This map from the U.S. Fores Service shows where live trees may be cut for Christmas. The rangers warn that recent snow storms in the area have made the sites accessible to l 'Wn r, If a severance tax isnt imposed, it will only put a burden on other energy-impacte- Tree tags issued four-whe- Q 25c Coal tax question moves from when, not if, says Matheson before AW r Entr1alnmnt Magciln Wednesday, December Volume 82 Number 48 month f " drive vehicles or snow machines. A large crowd gathered to obtain permits, Pat McCourt was just one of the many people . ' 1; ir I who look forward to this family outing of cutting down a Christmas tree. i |