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Show o)m n Volume 67, Number 50 Brigham City, Utah December 12, 1974 84302, Thursday Morning, 28 PAGES Revenue sharing 'bonus'? Court action doors for oddbd woy poymorii'f Jo -v- 5s' a - - w- 4 r ' !& ., "'5 5k T 4" reach their farm property across Bear river argued for its continued use. However, the county officials replied that its limited use will not justify the expense involved to repair or replace the bridge. commissioners, property owners gathered Tuesday afternoon for a personal inspection of this old bridge in east Corinne. Three property owners who use the span to COUNTY commissioners-elec- t County proposes 'tight' budget A $1,834,864 operating budget is being proposed for Box Elder county in 1975, a budget which County Clerk K.B. Olsen said will pinch us to live with. The figure is up fron $1,535,612 expenditures estimated for the current year which is fast drawing to a close. A hearing on the proposed budget is scheduled next Monday, Dec. 16, in the commission room at 10 a.m. A copy is now available at the clerks office for public inspection. A veteran of 25 years in office, Olsen said there never has been a budget since Ive been here that was worked on harder or longer to make things come out than this up, others show relatively little change or are even down. The county commission budget is up from $27,340 to $35,020, the increase reflecting a salary increase approved earlier in the year but which wont become The budgetary squeeze, fostered by inflation, has been compounded locally by a six percent ceiling on property tax income in this year of property revaluation. More Steps However, whereas now the top figure can be reached in three yearly steps, when the new schedule becomes effective, it will Will Be Less Ironically, anticipated revenue from property tax is less than six percent more than the current year. This years collection is expected to total $780,000 while next years take is anticipated at $821,842, based on the current mill levy. In expenditures, some departments are effective until Jan. 1. In addition, pay increases are figured into the new budget for all county employees next year. It will amount to $35 more a month for personnel except those employed in the county courthouse. Workers in the courthouse will benefit from an adjustment in the pay schedule which was raised from a range of monthly to It could mean, if theyll (office $410-$47- 5 $425-51- take four yearly steps. Olsen said the commissioners have not set a specific date for the pay adjustment to go into effect; however, they have talked about starting it in March. With exception of the commissioners and the county attorney whose salary will (Continued on Page Three) against federal government property of which is used. by a private company for profit. A federal appeals court found in the countys favor several years ago but remanded the suit back to the district ' court for final disposition-- . Neither Thiokol nor the U.S. government which brought the suit, took further action. And the case has since gathered dust. County Attorney O. Dee Lund, acting at the direction of the county commission, sought the suits dismissal. This was somewhat a risky move since the plaintiffs might have pursued it further in the appeals system and conceivably gained a reversal, making the county subject to repayment of all the privilege taxes it has ever collected. This was reason for the commissioners to heave a double sigh of relief when the dismissal order was issued. 1 public meeting to discuss the future status of the ninth grade is scheduled Wednesday, Dec. 18, at Box The session will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the choral room and all school patrons are invited to attend, a spokesman said. Two prime questions on the agenda will be that of the ninth grade, whether or not it should remain at the high school, and, should there be a middle school in the local area. The Box Elder Board of Education and district staff have considered both questions for a long time and decided to test the public pulse by holding this meeting. Notices of the session are being sent home with students, it was disclosed. Next Local Tax Effort criteria for determining local revenue sharing payments is local tax effort. When Box Elder county attempted to claim privilege tax payments as part of this effort, the federal agency rejected it because a suit contesting Utahs privilege tax law had not been finally decided. The privilege tax is that assessed One to be seen. Meeting set Dec. 8 on ninth grade future A declared. It appears that $603,112 paid as disputed taxes by Thiokol corporation during the 1960s, can now be credited to the county as tax effort by the federal office of revenue sharing. And this means the county should receive a bonus revenue sharing payment. Just how much it will be remains at Box Elder High school Elder High. 1.8 million one. -. X -it BOX ELDER revenue sharing) accept it, nothing but good. But how much good were not sure. It could be $40,000 or $50,000 or double that, Commission Chairman Don Chase g ' 'iSffih&'lb ; and Box Elder county, limited in its tax take this year by state revaluation, appears to have received a major financial break. It was announced Tuesday that a privilege tax suit has been dismissed in U.S. District court, Salt Lake City, by Judge Willis Ritter. eyorty Said Would Count In September Graham W. Watt, director, office of revenue sharing, made ths statement: The full amount of the disputed taxes ($603,112) will be credited to the countys tax effort in the year of final judicial determination, assuming a decision favorable to the county. In a letter to Watt, dated Dec. 6, Lund informed him of the courts decision enclosed a photo copy of the dismissal order, and stated; We trust that you will now be in a position to resolve this matter in favor of Box Elder county. A similar letter went to Sen. Wallace F. who has been assisting Bennett the county in the matter. Commission John Holmgren declared that developments have just proved that when somebody tells you no, it doesnt necessarily mean that. BE will give yule concert Box Elder High School Music depart- ment will present a Christmas concert, Thursday, Dec. 12, at 8 p.m. in the school auii .orium. The program will include traditional Christmas music as well as the introduction of several new selections. The concert band, directed by Earl La Swenson, will play Adeste Fidelis, Fete De Noel, and The Warmth of Christmas. Womens chorus, mised chorus, Madrigals, concert choir, and advanced womens chorus, directed by Wes Boman, will join to sing A Jazz Alleluia, Still, Still, Still, and Christmas Roundelay. In addition to several other selections by the choruses, the entire group of singers will join with band accompaniment to sing some seasonal favorites and a large finale. Admission is free and the public is invited to attend. Saturday give-awa- y Shoppers score at prize event A host of prizes were handed out to lucky shoppers Saturday as the Brigham City Merchants committee held its initial giveaway of the Christmas season. A number of persons gathered in front of the Greater Brigham City Area Chamber of Commerce to watch and listen as Santa Claus drew names of the winners. s It was the first of three such with the next one scheduled Saturday, give-away- same place. at 3 p.m. Participating merchants are continuing. Hell be at his headquarters, upstairs in the chamber building, Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 4 to 6 p.m. Here is the list of persons who won prizes from the gift tree last Saturday; Geneva Collom, ring from Palmers Jewelry; Tod Velasquez, $10 merchandise from Hansen Chevrolet; Donna Webb, $25 merchandise from Bairds Electric; Jean are Dec. 14, giving away tickets in the yule season promotion and those who win must be present to claim their prize. Chairman Bill Hall said upwards of $2,000 in merchandise and other gifts will be given away this year. Also this week, visits from Santa Claus, who will pose for free photos with the kids, Eyre, two tickets to Roxy theatre and $5 certificate from Red Baron. Joe Lessard, two tickets to Roxy and $5 certificate to Red Baron; Chris Beach, wheel alignment from Benson Tire; Cary Huff, $5 certificate from Youth Shop; Mike Perry, electric frying pan from Sears. Joy Gambler $50 merchandise from Blocks; Roseann Mills, two recapped (Continued on Page Three) County wants to know Calling all agencies: Who will use system? A meeting called Tuesday to clear the air over communications and law enforcement dispatching in Brigham City and Box Elder county instead encountered considerable static. It bared the subject as a source of irritation between county and Brigham City officials. The session, called by the county commission, sought a commitment from the Utah Highway patrol that it will join a new county radio dispatching system. However, Col. Roy M. Helm, Utah Highway patrol superintendent, declined to make such a commitment, explaining that questions of a technical nature needed to be answered first. t Currently, the patrol in Box Elder county relies on dispatching service from the Brigham City Police department which, in essence, is the communications hub of the county at present. Commissioner John Holmgren who has headed the county move toward establishment of its own dispatching center, suggested that two years ago Brigham City indicated it would join the county system. Now, however, Brigham City has decided to continue its own dispatching. Is Friction Commissioner Holmgren declared there is a friction between the county and the city. Its unfortunate but it is here and wont go away and so we might as well live with it. Indicating a change of mind due to the situation, he added. I dont believe the county should dispatch for the Brigham City Police department or city government. At this time I cant see anything but the two . . The county official quickly added that any dispatching that is county-widshould be done by the county. It was brought out that the proposed new system will provide radio coverage for essentially all of the county for the first time. Brigham City Mayor Harold B. Felt declared his resentment of inuendos that the city doesnt want to cooperate. Thats . e not true. He said the city is attempting to build up its police department and is cautious about giving up any services. I would have hoped that a smaller (Continued on Page Three) ON HAND SATURDAY for s first gift give-awa- committee City Merchants the Christmas season number of gift cer- - the Brigham y were these anxious shoppers. of A tificates were handed out. The scene will be repeated this coming Saturday at 3 p.m. |