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Show THE SAN JUAN RECORD Wednesday March 7, 1984 - Tax Commission achieves assessment objective After all property tax adjustments were made last year, Utah came very close to meeting the 15 percent assessment objectives prescribed for residentialprop-ert- y and the 20 percent goal for commercial property. This was reported by Utah Foundation, the private tax research organization in an analysis of the latest Tax Commission sales-rat- io study and property tax changes made during 1983. According to the study, the overall state average assessment in Utah last year was 15.07percent for residential property and 19.23 percent for commercial property. Utah law provides that residential property should be assessed at 15 and other property percent classes at 20 percent. These assessment are percentages based on fair market value as rolled back to a 1978 level. The sales-rat- io study just completed by the State Tax Commission indicates that residential property in. San Juan County was being assessed at Sidewalks Blanding City has adjusted its policy in an effort to encourage residents to carry on with the initial sidewalk safety program designed by the Community Group Sidewalk Task 13.68 to Councilman According Richard Pincock, the city of Blanding will.be responsible for the area from curb to curb but will also share half the cost of the sidewalk for those blocks willing to proceed with the work, Pincock said that neighborhoods united and ready to go ahead will be given first priority, especially those who intend to include sidewalks in their projects. Areas that are heavily traveled by school children also have top priority, Pincock said. . I commercial property at 19.47 percent, and unimproved at 10.86 percent last year. Although the state averages came very close to the prescribed legal level for these property classes, there was some variation among the counties. Residential assessments ranged from a low of 12.45 percent in Rich County to a high of 18,75 percent in Wayne County, Commercial assessment variations were even greater, ranging from 9J4 percent in Wayne County to 26.64 percent in Piute County. Foundation analysts theorize that the variation may be due in part to the small sample of properties soldin some of the less-popula- ted counties of the state. Property taxes charged in Utah last year were raised by $64 million or 13,6 percent. This was the largest single-ye- ar property tax increase in the states history. This resulted from higher prop- assessments along with increased property tax rates. The tax increase was property particularly noticeable in the erty case of business and other sidewalk-cur- b Force, percent, non-residen- tial property. The Foundation study indicates that the assessment changes made in Utah last year were the result of (1) the ratification of Proposition I by the Utah voters in 1982. (2) legislation enacted by the Utah Legislature to implement this constitutional and (3) the factoring adjustments which areprescribed by the State Tax Commission in every other year. Proposition I made some rather extensive changes in the tax article of the Utah State Constitution. Among other things, this 'constitutional amendment authorized the State Legislature to exempt up to 45 percent of the Monticello Chamber of Commerce Amnnnmall IBsumqitmeft value of residential property from taxation. Legislation approved by the 1982 and 1983 sessions of the Utah Legislature implemented this new provision, but limited the residential exemption initially to 25 percent. The Legislature also eliminated a 20 percent assessment reduction which previously had been applied to all locally-assess- ed real property in the state. The net effect of these changes, according to the Foundation, was to reduce the assessment level on residential property from 16 percent to 15 and other nonresidential prop- tablished a classified property tax in Utah, whereby residential property receives favored treatment over otherproperty classes. Along with the implementation of the changes prompted by the ratification of Proposition j, the State Tax Commission also ordered assessment changes last year under its biennial factoring program. Thisfactoringprogram was established in 1981 and is designed to correct assessment inequities that develop among the various counties of the state. These adjustments are needed to facilitate operation of the school finance program in Utah. Agriculture prices in average prices received by Utah farmers and ranchers for livestock and animal Changes products were mixed during February, according to the Utah Crop and Livestock Reporting Service. Average prices received for cows and beef cattle were up, while calf, steer andheifer prices were off slightly. Sheep prices averaged higher, lambs declined, and wool remained unchanged. For crops, average alfalfa hay prices dropped, other hay increased $2 per ton, and barley also increased slightly. Exercise Your Legal Rights Read the Public Notices Contel applies for rate increase authorized rate. Continental Telephone Company of the West (Contel) has filed an application for $1,459,000 in additional local revenues with the Public Service Commission of Utah. According to Grant Callister, manager of telephone services for Contel in Utah, the application filed February 29 was necessary in part to make whole the rate of return authorized by last years Contel filed in April of 1983 for a $L3 million increase, and was granted $133,000 in September of At the same time, the 1983. Commission authorized an 1L56 percent rate of return for the Based on Contels company. adjusted budget through December of 1984, the actual rate of return the company will earn is only 8.63 percent. On an interim surcharge basis, Contel is seeking an increase of $1.2 million to ensure the 11.56 percent return as authorized last year. The company is also asking to increase the rate of return to 12.03 percent on a permanent basis. The proposed new permanent rates, if approved by the Commission, will increase the basic telephone bill a minimum of $5 JO to a maximum of $10.40 for singleparty residential service. Bills will reflect differing increases depending on the customers location and type of service. Business rates will increase in varying amounts according to location, type of service, number of lines, and type of equipment. While Contel recognizes that the proposed rates may mean a substantial increase to some customers, Callister says that the need for higher rates is accu- rately stated. Contels projected rate of return is significantly lower than that of similar utilities, and falls far short of the Farm programs sign-u- Secretary of Agriculture John R. Block has extended the signup period for 1984 cotton, feed grain, rice, and wheat programs by three weeks, through March AU American Agency Heal Estate 1. . 2. SMALL DOWN PAYMENT, owner financing, good interest rate. lot, new cabinet and floor This one is for you. 3 bdrms, dble-de- ep coverings, good location. Terms negotiable. 3. LIKE NEW AND AVAILABLE 3 bdrms, fenced yd, woodburner installed. FmHA financing if qualified. 4. BEAUTIFUL VIEW of Blue Mountain. 2 bdrm, split entry, full unfinished bsmnt, woodburning stove, landscaped. Owner will plot in country. 5. BUY TWO, RENT ONE Two homes on Passive solar, trees, view, water, power, septic, carports, wood shed, cellar and all the privacy you need. $34,500 Excellent terms with reasonable down. 6. FIVE ACRES IMPROVED with Hwy 666 frontage. Power on property. Water well in, phone in, road in. $7,950 , Terms 6-a- cre . available. $8 per person Includes dinner and entertainment! ItICKETS AVAILABLE FROM C of C MEMBERS OR AT THE DOOR SCENIC COUNTRY LOT 7.5 miles on east Monticello 7. Spectacular view, power to property line, well permit. Soil excellent for crops. $2,950: Super terms available. highway. iBruce Aitatns 587-282- 0 Bhullta (Eortes 259-649- 3 customers in our Tremonton, Delta, and Moab serving areas, Contels expenditures for new and upgraded facilities in these districts have been in excess of $18 million from 1979 through 1983. In 1984, the company will spend an additional $5.6 million to begin the first year of a three-ye- ar program to convert to digital switching in the three districts served. The Delta area will be converted in the fall of this year, Callister said. According to Callister, The earnings of the company must be consistent with similar companies if Contel is to continue to attract tke necessary capital investments. The proposed increase in the authorized rate of return will make this possible and thereby allow the company to continue providing high quality service to its customers. Copies of the rate case application and proposed tariff revisions are on file with the Public Service Commission of Utah in Salt Lake City. Hearings will be scheduled by the Commission to review the filing and proposed rates. Customers will be notified of the time and location after the Commission determines where and when the hearings will be held. Customers interested in further information concerning the rate filing may call Grant Callister collect at Tremonton, Callister said he will be happy to who customers accomodate want more specific details concerning the impact of theproposed rates on their individual service. 257-53- extended to March p Monticello s finest custom-bui- lt THE WALTON HOME home on current market. Three bdrms, 2 baths, large FR in bsmnt. , Carport, block wall fence, fruit trees and garden spot. Financing available at 10 with large down. m to contain costs, operating expenses for the company have continued to dimb as Contels investment in Utah has grown, hi responding to the needs of rate order consider rental. Saturday, March 1 7 at 6 p.m. Monticello High School Ih spite of an aggressivepro-gra- 16. IF E imteirttan mimm e nntiX featuring Hales Family Fiddlers in- erties from 16 percent to 20 percent. These changes es- amid i percent, but to crease assessments on business - Page 3 H 11. 16 Block also said he has changed summer fallow rules so that the requirements would be the same as they were in 1983 andprevious programs. Prior to this action, acreage designated for the 1984 programs could not have been land intended for summer fallow in the current year. Other provisions of the 1984 programs will remain unchanged, he said. Block said he took these actions to clear away some of the obstacles which made it difficult for farmers to make sound decisions about the programs. Also, many farmers have not been able to finalize crop operating plans including financing and lease arrangements. Since producers must sign a binding contract in the 1984 acreage reduction programs, with liquidated damages for failure to comply, they are reluctant to sign up until their operating plans are more complete, he said. Both USDA andprivate sector analysts say that when most farmers compare these programs with their own operating plans, they will findparticipalion is to their advantage, Block This extension will said. needed the time give producers to weigh the benefits of participation against the risks of no price protection which they would otherwise face. Without advertising you wouldnt know |