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Show 10A Emery County Progress, Castle Dale, Utah Tuesday, December 14, 1999 An Apple for Teacher at Canyon View Junior High PacifiCorpScottish Power merger means new executive vice president for Utah Bill Landels has been named Executive Vice President and member of the PacifiCorp Board. He will be Students at Canyon View Junior High put on the play An Apple for Teacher written by Percy Forst. The play was presented to the student body the day before the students went on their Thanksgiving break. It is the story- of a young teacher named Miss Baker (played by Ashley Grant) trying to control an out of control class. She has to put up with students like Swat Simmons (played by Seth Jensen) who got his name because he likes to Swat the other students on the head with a rolled up newspaper. Then there is the unbearable Alicia Peabody (played by Monica Wiehing) the rich spoiled girl who butters up the teacher with an apple a day, but she just cant get along with the rest of the students. Especially Dixie Duke the southern Belle (Roberta Candleria) and her friend Dodie Smart (Celeste Lojik) who is far from - smart. Finally Mrs. Peabody (Stacy Thornsbarry)rescues Alicia from the her torment and takes her out of school to the cheers of the rest of the students. This is not the end, however, Miss Baker and Mr. Drake (Bruce Clement) announce to the class that they have decided to get married and introduce the replacement teacher Mrs. Batler.(Natasha Jensen). Mrs. Batler is more like a drill sergeant than a teacher. Other students in the play were: Jennifer Oviatt Ashley Vanwagner Kamille Oviatt Karlee Thompson Elida Smith Jennifer Yanez Erin Anselmo Kyle Rowe Shambrav Lojik Natalee Ewell All the students did an excellent job. and low-incom- with lots of great services & fun for all customer benefits and deliver on the commitments weve Landels said. outlined, Teams of PacifiCorp and ScottishPower employees will now begin working on a detailed transition plan, which will be completed in six months. While managing director at Manweb, Landels was chairman of the Mersey Partnership, an economic development organization. He was also a member of other orga- nizations that support regeneration in the region, including the Confedeco-nom- ic eration of British Industry in Wales, the North West Busi 9. City in October, and has been meeting informally with busi- ness and political leaders in advance of taking up his position with the merged company. He and his wife, Jessie, have two adult children. His recreational pursuits include ' golf and swimming. Landels was educated at Dalkeith High School, near Edinburgh, Scotland. He was a local government executive with the farmer Midlothian County Council between 1 961-6He then joined the Scot6. tish Housing Association where he was Regional Manager until 1985 when he joined ScottishPower. Utah Taxpayers Association un veils its 2000 Taxpayer Protection Plan On the deadline for payment of state and local property taxes, the Utah Taxpayers Association unveiled its 2000 Taxpayer Protection Plan. This plan, if approved by the legislature and signed into law by the Governor, will provide taxpayers in Utah with critical protections against unwarranted and unnecessary property tax increases, said Greg A. Fredde, Vice President of the Utah Taxpayers Association. The plan includes three components aimed at protecting taxpayers from rising property taxes and providing taxpayers with a direct voice in their taxing future. The 2000 Taxpayer Protection Plan components are: (1) voter approval of all future property tax increases; (2) a reduction of local tax rates to prevent a permanent tax windfall resulting from changes in motor vehicle assess- property tax increases. In at least 16 states, voter approval is required for taxes to exceed their respective limits. In at least three states, authorization to exceed the levy requires a two thirds majority vote. Local taxing entities worry that a public vote on all proposed property tax increases would significantly limit their ability to meet growing needs. While a permanent public vote would be a significant hurdle, history demonstrates that it is frequently achieved. Each year, Utah voters authorize millions of dollars in tax increases through general obligation bonds," Fredde observed. Between 1992-9- 7, voters approved 31 of 33 capi- tal facility general obligation bonds for education alone totaling over $1 billion." The Taxpayers Association believes the advantages of a ments in 1999; and, (3) changes to eliminate delays some permanent public vote are significant and that it will proin issuance of commission or court manvide taxpayers with additional protection against unnecup to one year dated property tax refunds resulting from over assess- essary tax increases. ments. Many property owners, when they receive their propThe latter two bills have been adopted by the Revenue erty tax notice, will wish they had been allowed a more and Taxation interim committee as committee bills. A bill direct voice in setting their property tax rates, Fredde requiring voter approval of property tax increases was said. We hope that this year the legislature will grant that voice." narrowly defeated by one vote in the interim committee. These components, taken together, will make Utahs The second components of the plan would require the property tax system less burdensome and less onerous for .Tax Commission to reduce local property tax levies to prevent a permanent tax hike resulting from recent changes taxpayers," Fredde said. For three of the past four years, Utah voters have had a in motor vehicle assessment practices. direct voice over property tax increases through tempoAs a result of a Tax Commission ruling, local governments were allowed to automatically increase their tax levrary voting requirement. If taxpayers have learned anything this year, it is that ies in 1999 by a combined $5.5 million as a result of anticitheir pleas not to increase property taxes largely fell on pated new growth," Fredde said. The Commissions ruldeaf ears in 1999, said Fredde. While Utahs ing is contrary to intent of the bills sponsor and the inlaw has been effective in limiting escalating proptent of the Utah Legislature, and thus should be corrected," erty taxes, Utahns are in need of additional protection," Fredde continued. Fredde continued. The $5.5 million new growth adjustment is part of an For three of the past six years, Utah voters have had a estimated $16.2 million property tax shift from motor vedirect voice over property tax increases through tempohicles to real property. rary voting requirements. The shift follows a 1998 legislative change which scrapped The Taxpayers Association believes that a permanent the practice of assessing vehicles based on market value public vote on all proposed property tax increases will pro- and adopted a uniform assessment based on the vehicles vide taxpayers with the protection they need from unnecage. The legislation allowed local governments to increase essary or their property tax rates by the amount of any loss of moproposals, Fredde said. In fact, based on previous experience, it appears that tor vehicle revenues resulting from the change. the existence of the voting requirement will reduce the As a result, the Tax Commission increased certified propnumber of proposed tax increases. erty tax rates in Utah in 1999 by $16.2 million. In 1994, when there was no voting requirement, 44 taxDue to a quirk in legislation passed last year, some proping entities proposed property tax increases. In 1995 and erty owners who have successfully appealed their prop1996, with the public vote requirement in place, only 11 erty value have been forced to wait for a tax refund up to and 12 taxing entities proposed property tax increases, one year. respectively. This unnecessary delay frustrates taxpayers and costs In 1997, when the public vote requirement expired, 45 local governments additional interest costs," noted Fredde. Technical changes in the law will allow local taxing entities proposed increasing property taxes. In 1998 the temporary, one year vote requirement resulted in only to issue refunds immediately and still reserve governments the right to 20 taxing entities proposing property tax increases, three impose a judgment levy to reimburse government coffers of w'hich had received prior voter approval. at a later time if needed, Fredde said. r votFinally, in 1999 with the expiration of the These proposed changes are a win-wisituation for ing requirement, 51 taxing entities proposed tax increase taxpayers and local governments alike," Fredde noted. "It will ensure taxpayers receive timely refunds while provide totaling over $75 million. It is apparent that a permanent voting requirement on local governments with additional budgetary flexibility." all property tax increases will provide taxpayers with additional protection from unnecessary tax increases," noted The Emery County Fredde. Progress will once again be The call for additional taxpayer protections follows an a sponsor of the 1999 Emexpected record increase - approximately $133.4 million ery County Person of the in property tax revenues in 1999. Year " Contest. Over half of this years increase - approximately $75 There are lots of people million - is due to property tax increases by 51 taxing entiin the county who deserve ties," Fredde said. be recognized for all to An additional $16.2 million is due to a tax shift from do to help others and they motor vehicles to real property due to a recent legislative The average person takes our county so great. make between 12 and 18 breaths change on how vehicles are assessed, Fredde noted. Please submit your Utah would not be unique in requiring voter approval of a minute. Truth-in-Taxatio- Its where Christmas begins With the completion of the ness Leadership Team and merger of PacifiCorp and the North Wales Economic ScottishPower, we can now Forum. move ahead to achieve the Landels moved to Salt Lake e programs. Landels is a member of the newly formed PacifiCorp Advisory Board and is also based in Utah, where his vice chair of the three specific role is to focus on PacifiCorp Regional Advifostering positive working sory Boards for Utah Power relationships with external and Pacific Power. Landels comes to Utah stakeholders. from his position as managcomwill work He with of Manweb, an director and state ing munity leaders, local elected officials, and electric utility in England lead a process of community and northern Wales, which involvement and economic ScottishPower acquired in 1995. Since becoming part of development. Manweb In addition, Landels will ScottishPower, be responsible for the stra- customer power outages custegic development of cus- were reduced, as have to tomer tomer service across all of utility complaints PacifiCorps service territo- regulators. Under Landels leaderries. This responsibility includes the specific commitship, Manweb delivered its ments the merged compa- best-eve- r operational pernies made to community formance in 1998-9- n -- one-yea- Donkey & Carts Jewelry Lotions Coudles Candles Benches Dolls Bears -- SS Unique Crafts lings -n- -Ti 44 West Main, Castle Dale s 331-250- K5K 3 C A . f. uniwinmibein: Nifty XJL Life (r (Sfjieccal ($7ia?ic New that you're Fifty Emery Telcom-Intern- et 07te farniy of d!oi OtnaU During December and January Emery Telcom will be running an Internet special. ?. Sign up for the Internet and a Second line and we will waive ail set-u- p fees! - iHF 9 qIou ey troud ftic (o Aanh al outf icnd andfa miy and fotaU food) JiUottocalLi many fooofy ffoioet k Cao)Cf(atJty and &flSifoafl hocato Stoy yato him du tiny hi tony (no. SJccia hanh (o ho &ico Glh tyiatd Sicof ' focicy and dBiAoffeaem 1 Love, Mom, meant much oa of um dioxin tylU fPnnumt iThe Ferron Zoo, and Sons fha Sia iPfeU jfmin and fTyniUi dta and fTmmtn jdrt) Juey and jAiiA tyftll ' C)iedx nomination for Person of the Year, along with a short write-u- p of why you feel heshe should be chosen. your name, address number to and-phon- efo I TELCOM 1 n o-eet- y Emery County Progress, PO Box 589, Castle Dale, UT 84513; or by fax (435) 381-243- 1; progress etv.net; or submit it in person at the Progress office, 190 E. Main, Castle Dale. The person receiving the most nominations will be named the winner. In the event of a tie, a tie breaker will be held. In an effort to allow ample time for nominations to be made the deadline for submittal will be January Jan. 14, 2000, and the winner will be highlighted in the Feb. 1. 2000 edition of the Emery County Progress. |