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Show 4 BOX Letters to the Editor... NEWS, Brigham City, Utah 14. 1975 December Sunday, 2 ELDER Editorially Speaking Was not fair Just how interested Thursday, Dec. 11, 1 planned to submit a petition to the city council. Below is a copy of it: We, the undersigned, as citizens of Brigham City, wish to petition the mayor and city council to reconsider their decision, not to have an open hearing, on the firing of Miss Tovey, by the library board. We feel that you, as our elected representatives, are not fully representing our interests in this matter. We feel that enough citizens desire a public hearing, that the better interests of the community can only be served by holding a full and open hearing on the situation. Any time a community is told that it will not be allowed to explore the full facts concerning the operation or actions of a public facility, it raises many doubts about the operation of that facility. The time is past when we as citizens can or should accept the position of inactive citizens. For our government to operate as a democracy on any level, personal involvement on the part of common citizens is a necessary ingredient. In view of our feelings we hope you will give this petition the consideration we feel it merits. Thursday afternoon I found that Miss Tovey had decided not to attend the meeting. I feel this was a direct result of the restrictions placed on the hearing by Mayor Felt and city council. I would like this letter to be a formal apology to Miss Tovey from me, as a citizen. Im sorry, Miss Tovey, regretfully I helped elect the officials that appointed the library board and treated your petition for a just hearing so unjustly. Im ashamed that your experience, as libararian, was made the trial it was. Im ashamed that more citizens didnt attend library board meetings, and make their wishes known. Im ashamed that our elected representatives could not agree to give a fair and open hearing to your side of the situation. I thank you for the time and love you spent on our library and on our children; and Im proud that some citizens of Brigham City worked and fought to get you a fair hearing. We havent lost you know. We have all learned from this. We as citizens will hopefully be participating more in our city government now. Wherever you go may you be happy and may you remember not the injustice, but the love and gratitude we feel for you. average citizen ? is When the Democratic Central committee this past week urged Box Elder county commissioners to hold their meetings at night thus enabling more citizens to attend it was not a new proposal. As pointed out by Commissioner Don Chase, the shifting of regular commission sessions from daytime to evenings has been considered previously. The reasoning for wanting such a change is valid enough. Most people work during the day; many are employed out of town. It becomes difficult, if not impossible, for them to attend a meeting during the day should they have business with the county board. COMMISSIONER Chase said they would Editor: take the request under he isnt interested. This same citizen likely attempts to keep abreast with governmental goings-o- n through the various news reports which appear in several newspapers serving the area plus radio and sometimes television. And there are some citizens who just dont give a hang. They wouldnt attend a meeting if free sandwiches and drinks were served. Recently when the controversial firing of Fern Tovey as city librarian was raised at a Brigham City council session, the room was filled to capacity. However, when this emotion-packe- d matter was covered and the council moved on to other items of business, the place emptied quickly, leaving only reporters and city officials. fU ad- visement. And it may be the Box Elder officials will decide to conduct at least some of their regular sessions at night. Intent of the Democratic leaders was to encourage and stimulate greater citizen interest and participation in county government. Its been our observation, however, that the average citizen, unless he has specific business with a governing body be it the county commission, city council or school board has little interest in attending meetings. It doesnt mean THE SAME WAS true when a great public outcry erupted in the wake of extended-da- y stipend cuts effected by the Box Elder Board of Education this past fall. Hundreds attended a board meeting in the Box Elder High auditorium, reacting noisily as the issue was treated. Yet when the board finally turned to other subjects of concern but less emotional appeal, only a handful of citizens stayed around. Thats the way it is and weve come to accept, if not condone it over the years. I 'i r- A' e'5 - ' ,U I ' i...zndmeni to the Constitution soys: "Co n shzJ rr.oke no law . ; , abridging the freedom grczj of steorofthepress." f& . ' , , K-- Patricia ployment... Cl A, FBI disclosures: assassination plots, unlawful acts... Its Revenue sharing . . perhaps too simple The federal revenue sharing program will breathe its final year of existence in 1976 unless Congress acts to renew it. Prospects for this are not promising at the current time. As weve been able to conclude, there is an attitude among some lawmakers, including Rep. Gunn that not enough McKay control exists over the way these funds are spent at the local level. Washington sends the money down, the pipe and states, counties and cities have enjoyed wide latitude in how they are utilized. And with minimum accounting. (D-Utah- ), OFFICIALS here in our local realm view revenue sharing as the most logical, dependable and ef- fective funding program yet spawned in the nations capital. Theyve used the money wisely, financing with it such things as construction equipment, property acquisition. and . Congressmen who want to scrap it voice a preference for catagorical grants with tighter controls and more specific direction on how they are spent. And, may we add, with cumand apbersome plication procedures, uncertainty of approval, regional review, matching funds requirements, restrictive application and stringent accounting at local expense, wondering from Included were four persons selected to receive scoutings coveted Silver Beaver award Winston P. Nelson and Vernon C. Spencer of Brigham City; Mrs. Albert (Ruth) Bingham of Honeyville, and Mack R. Hansen, El wood. honored recently were three of the Brigham City Volunteer Fire department Lowell Duke Baron, Doyle for 25 Packer and Gordon Reeves of service. years These folks are representative of many in the Box Elder community who spend time and energy to Also members editor-in-chi- ef and vice president of United Press International, sent this humble weekly publication a ballot to indicate our selection of the years top news stories. Some of the fun times weve had during 1975 are reflected in these nominees : South Vietnam, Cambodia and Com-- , to Laos fall the 10 with this bureaucratic management, revenue sharing is administered from an office in Washington, D.C., with just 70 employes. It serves the entire BY CONTRAST munists... terrorism: bombings, kidnappings, hijacks worldwide. ..the economy: recession, inflation, tax cuts, unem nation. With the ballot, Mr. Stevenson enclosed his own annual listing of the most forgettable stories of the year. I thought you might be interested in knowing what they are : 1. Craig Claibornes $4,000 feast in Paris. (Claiborne, food writer for the New York Times, managed to spend this much for a meal consisting of 31 dishes and nine wines. American Express picked up the tab with the whole thing growing out of an auction benefiting public television.) 2. Liz Taylor-Richar- d Burton reconciled, remarried. 3. The Manpower administration announces that henceforth bus boys, foremen, salesmen and stewardesses will be known as dining room attendants, supervisors, sales: persons and flight attendants. More than 3,000 other titles also were changed. National Girl Scouts vote against admitting male members. 4. Sir Dove-Mye- r Robinson, mayor of Auckland, New Zealand, on a visit to New York said: If I were mayor of New York, I would jump into the Hudson river and get it over with as soon as possible. 5. 6. Reporter steals Henry Kissingers garbage. 7. U. S. government, marking the start of the new fiscal year, reports that budget deficits have occurred in 16 of the last 18 years. Congressman Anthony Moffett discloses that some of his colleagues watch television soap operas during House sessions. 9. California Health department links spread of venereal disease to unemployment. 10. New world records claimed for ferris wheel riding, lap sitting, handclapping, shoe shining, pipe 8. (D-Con- smoking, rope skipping, organ playing, Monopoly under water, largest ice cream sundae, and largest chocolate chip cookie, a er in Lexington, Mass. How does this stack up with your list? Pow Wow would have included the announcement that Sonny and Cher will get back together for a television and. ..lets series, see... what was that other one...? Perhaps revenue sharing is just too simple. Possibly if we could complicate it more, this program might survive in the nations massive repertoire of federal aid plans. who give service Those reading recent front pages Elder News and Journal are aware that some local residents have been recognized for their service to others. H. L. Stevenson, day to day when the funding source will dry up. We appreciate those of the Box really been a great year, right? And just think, in another generation well talk about these as the good old days". - Spence- benefit fellow citizens. Whether its camping out in midwinter with a group of eager Boy Scouts or leaving the comfort of a warm bed to answer a 4 a.m. fire alarm, it means helping, caring, concern, serving... Living in our valley is the better for it. Often the untiring efforts of those who labor long and diligently for the sake of others go unnoticed by the public at large. Only when an award is made or other form of recognition sheds light on their activities, are they generally known. Nevertheless, the work goes on in various forms. People helping people. We appreciate those recently honored. And all who render service to their fellow men in so many ways. Thanks. Utah Foundation says BOX ELDER NEWS A weekly Utah's Following 1894, Box short-ter- m is an analysis of Utahs financial prospects as prepared by Utah Foundation, the tax research private organization. Although the prospects for the state short-ter- e the somewhat more uncertain. cellent, long-rang- financial are expicture is of Utah Utah should conclude the present (1975-76- ) fiscal year with a sizable surplus and balance its 1976-7- 7 state budget without any major tax increase. In fact, if the revenue and surplus outlook remain optimistic, there is a possibility that a tax reduction could be effected next year. e Based on the revenue estimates prepared by Utah Foundation, the state could end the 1975-7- 6 fiscal year with a surplus in excess of $25 million. The 1975-7budget approved by the 1975 Utah Legislature indicated that the ending surplus would be less than $2 million. mid-rang- one-tim- ar and local assessed valuations con- tributions to the school program were underestimated at the time the program was being considered by the Legislature. 6 AMONG THE FACTORS ACCOUNTING for this apparent improvement in the states fiscal picture are the following: 1. The revenue estimates used by the 1975 Legislature now appear to be somewhat conservative. 2. The national recession has not had as severe an impact on the Utah economy as was first anticipated. 3. The added revenue from the 1975 state income tax increase is likely to be greater also appears encouraging. If per capita and per student costs are raised 8 percent to reflect increases resulting from inflation, and if e revenues follow a projection, approximately $39 million would remain e items such as for tax reduction, buildings, amounts for new programs, and-o- r supplements- to the amounts projected for regular appropriations. However, that part of the balance remaining after providing for basic state THE FISCAL OUTLOOK for 1976-7- 7 mid-rang- one-tim- - expenditure requirements nonrecurring Elder l, 55 South First Wait, Brigham City, Utah, 84302. Second Clast postage paid at the post office, 14 South First West, Brigham City, Utah, 84302. financing? than was originally estimated. 4. The boost in state withholding rates e windfall of should produce a $4-to $5 million. 5. The 3 percent appropriation cuts made by the governor in 1974 tended to reduce the base on which the 1975-7- 6 appropriations were calculated. 6. Lapses from 1974-7- 5 appropriations were greater than anticipated. 7. The required lapsing of excess local taxes for the school program will reduce state costs by nearly $10 million over a three-yeperiod ($0.9 million from 1973-7- 4 appropriation, $2.4 million from 1974-7- 5 appropriation, and an estimated $6.4 million from 1975-7- 6 appropriation). This excess arises primarily because funds. represents This presents a newspaper established in published every Sunday by the potential hazard, because if such funds are used to enlarge operating programs, financial problems could occur in the future when the nonrecurring funds are expended and revenue growth slows down. WHILE THE SHORT-RANG- E fiscal outlook of the state is excellent, there are a number of factors which make the long-ranpicture uncertain. The following are possible clouds on the states financial horizon: 1. School enrollments in Utah are beginning to rise which will place greater financial pressures on the state in future years. 2. Highway financing has encountered financial difficulties during the past year. This has required some financial support from the state general fund. 3. The federal revenue sharing program now supplying Utah with more than $12 million a year in state revenue is scheduled to expire at the end of the 1976 calendar year. ge Charles "Tuff Claybaugh Publisher General Manager Bruce 7, Keyes, Managing Editor Mike Perry, Sports Editor Sarah Yates, Society Editor Ft. E. Anderson, Commercial Printing Supr. Shirley Richardson, CTassifieds Betty Claybaugh, Circulation Arland Tingey, Newspaper Supr. Van Claybaugh, Photo-Pres- s Supr. rate $9.00 per year pay in advance in connection with the Box Elder News (published Sun days) $4.50 for 4 months: in Box Elder County. Subscription rate $11.00 per year payable in advance in connection with the Box Elder News (published Sunoutside days) $5.50 for 4 months: Box Elder Couunfy. Subscription able Brigham City Museum-Galler- y 24 North Third The 1975 Utah Legislature enacted several programs which will have a delayed impact on state finances. For Wt 4. example, the expanded retirement program enacted by the 1975 Utah Legislature provided for a phasing-i- n of the necessary increased contribution rates. In addition, a new $70 million bonding program was adopted this year, but repayment of the bonds is not scheduled to begin until 1980. Brigham City Mweawm-Callar- 24 North 3rd Watt 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday Froo Admission Dacombor Art Exhibit Pointings, Pottary, Sculpture - Lynn Hone Drawings, Paintings, Woodcervings, Writings -Eldor Boyd K. Packer Paintings, Sculpfuro Kenneth Packer Hand Created Dolls in Codec tors Corner Coming In Januery-Waset- ch Art Guild end QUILT CRAZC IV |