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Show THE SAN JUAN RECORD Thursday November U, 1982 - Page 11 Hard decisions will be needed soon to solve Social Secuirty dilemma Some hard decisions will have to be made soon if the Social Se- curity program if to be saved. This is the finding of Utah Foundation, the private research organization which just completed a study of the Social Security dilemma feeing the nation. Despite huge increases in Social Security taxes that have occurred during recent years, the system has run out of money to meet benefit commitments for lems mounted when the system matured. Benefit outlays have exceeded contributions every year since 1975. Retirement reserves have been depleted and Social Security now is being forced to borrow. Later this month Congress will be meetinginalam session to find a solution to this and other problems. A special bipartisan commission establish edby President Reagan to examine Social Security benefits and financing also is scheduled tore-po- rt its findings sometime this month. e-d- uck current retirees. As a result, this month the Social Security retirement fund is being fbreed to borrow from other accounts topay benefits. According to the Foundation Social Security differs study. from most private retirement systems in that obligations are not recognized and actuarially funded as they occur. Rather the program relies mainly on the taxes Foundation analysts point out that an additional $96 billion in revenue or a corresponding reduction in benefit payments over the next five years will be needed to solve the short-ran- ge problems facing the system, assuming moderate economic growth. If a more pessimistic assumption of the economy is used, the deficit could be as much as $181 billion over the next five years. . collected from present workers to pay benefits for retired and disabled workers and their families. this approach worked reasonably well during the early years of the program when there were many persons contributing to the system and only a few individuals drawing benefits, prob While The Foundation study indicates that the following suggestions have been made by various groups and individuals to increase 1982 meat production predicition down Total 1982 meat production in this country will be down about 4 Snyder said consumer demand for the meat will continue to be affected by the economy of the country and how that economy in different affects people sectors. He noted that blue collar workers, one of the major beefconsuming groups, has been hard hit economically. percent from 1982. Dr. Donald extension economist, Snyder, Utah State University, based that prediction on the expectation that declines in pork production will more than offset slight increases in supplies of beef and poultry. cattle slaughter He said numbers have been up but cattle are going to market earlier at weights keeping beef lighter levels. supplies close to year-aPork supplies are expected to be down about 10 percent from 1981. . Also, curtailment of government entitlement programs and high national unemployment are having an adverse impace on consumer demand for meat and particularly for beef. go income to the Social Security system. 1. Raise payroll taxes. 2. Financing from general re- venues. 3. Require universal Social Security coverage. At the present time federal employees, members of Congress, and many state and local employees are exempted from paying Social Security taxes. Many of these individuals, how- ever, qualify for benefits through other coverage. Among the most significant and widely discussed methods of reducing Social Security cost outlined in the Foundation study are the following. L Modify cost-of-livi- ng Unless Congress makes some substantial changes, whether it be to increase the present funding level anchor to scale back the size of the program, the national interstate system, highway including Utah's portion, may never be completed. This wasthe conclusion of Utah Foundation, the private research organizain a study of Utah's tion, interstate highway system. According to the Foundation study, present allocations for interstate construction are not covering the rising costs of completing the system resulting from inflation. Moreover, some parts of the interstate system constructed during earlier years are beginning to wear out and may sochi be in need of extensive repairs or reconstruction. Although the federal government now is providing some funds for repairs and reconstruction, the amount presently allocated is far short of the amount expected to be needed in the years ahead. Of the 938 miles of interstate highways allocated to Utah, 143.6 miles have not been completed and opened to traffic. Utah ranks second among the states in the total miles of interstate highways not yet open to traffic, but ranks 27th in the estimated cost of these unopened completing routes. Foundation analysts explain that this disparity in the rankings is the result of a policy decision in Utah made a number of years ago to construct the more costly urban routes first, leaving the less costly rural sections until the later stages of the long- - range construction plan. R is estimated by the Utah Department of Transportation that the cost of completing the unfinished of Utah's interstate options system will exceed $600 million. This completion cost is nearly 70 percent of the total cost of those sections already completed. Last year, Congress made several changes designed to reduce the estimated completion cost of the national interstate system by $13.8 billion, or 26 with these Even percent. changes, however, the remaining completion cost totals $40 billion and exceeds present revenue sources. According to the Congressional Budget Office, completion of the present interstate program by the year 1990 would require an increase in the federal gasoline tax of 5.3 cents per gallon. The Congressional Budget Office suggests two options which would reduce the cost of completing the present interstate program by eliminating certain routes from the system. An would intermediate option 624 of of roads miles eliminate local importance not yet under construction from the system and reduce the completion cost to about $21.2 billion. A minimum option would eliminate 624 miles of roads of local importance not yet under construction and bring the total completion cost down to The report $10.2 billion. observes, however, that the eliminated routes would qualify for reconstruction funds, which The Lymans appreciate all those San Juan County residents ideas at Cedar Mesa who discovered the great Pottery during their first year in business. gift-givi- All pieces are hand painted in the store in a variety of colors snH designs by Indian artists. You can select from over 50 Cedar Mesa also offers packing and UPS different shapes. shipping anywhere in the continental United States. Now is a good time to buy as all pottery in the store will be discounted 20 from now until Christmas, Ccdoir Mgoq Pottery the traffic light Main and Center at Blanding would offset some of the savings realized from the route reductions. Even with the route reductions suggested by the Congressional Budget Office, however, some additional fending would be required if the interstate system is to be completed by the end of the present decade. According to the Congressional Budget Office estimates, completion of the intermediate program would require a 4.1 cents per gallon increase in the federal motor fuel tax, and completion of the minimum program would necessitate a 3.5 cents per gallon increase. At the present time, the federal gasoline tax is 4 cents per gallon and the Utah motor feel tax is an additional 11 cents per gallon. VA auto grant available Veterans Administration of grant up to $4,400 is available to some seriously disabled veterans for purchase of an automobile, van or other conveyance, said Douglas Wadsworth, director of Salt Lake City VA Regional Office. A The VA also will pay for spe- cially adapted equipment required for the disabled veteran to safely operate the motor vehicle. In addition to the vehicle and the adapted equipment, the VA will pay for the repair, replacement or of such equipment in subsequent vehicles. Veterans who believe they may be eligible for the $4,400 grant should telephone the Salt Lake City VA Regional Office toH free at Dead Horse Point to all the voters winter hours During the month of October 9,240 people visited Dead Horse Point State Park. This is down from the 12,755 visitors for the same month in 198L The year-to-date totals are down 3 percent confidence in me. when compared to the months of 198L I will uphold ng a beautiful They invite everyone to come in, browse and select and unique gift from among the many items, all of which are suitable for birthday, wedding and Christmas giving. Whatever changes are made in the Social Security program, the Foundation notes that most observers agree that they should be phased in over a period of time to avoid disnqDtions to those currently retired and those about to THANK YOU who placed their ed 3. Raise retirement age. Changes needed to assure completion of Interstate highway system County hand-paint- rates. retire. of San Juan Joe and Marilyn Lyman pose with the beautiful pottery for sale in their Blanding store. Cedar Mesa Pottery. Reduce future replacement 2. the tradition of accurate records and courteous service as County Recorder. first 10 The campground is now closed for the winter; however, winter camping is allowed at the Point picnic area. The Visitor Center and exhibit room are open from 9 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. each day. The nature trail and other hiking trails are also open for visitor use. Either a day use fee of $2 per vehicle or a camp fee is required for all park visitors. The crisp, clean air and solitude of the late fell make this a very special and enjoyable time to visit Dead Horse Point State self-guid- ed A special thank-yo- u to my family and friends throughout the county who worked so hard to support me. Mary Lou Mosher Park. All area residents and visitors are invited to experience the beauty of Dead Horse Point State Park in autumn. |