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Show THE LIBRARY GETS A FACELIFT OVER THE HOLIDAYS. DETAILS ON PAGE 7. College administrators are gearing up for the battle against a proposed tax rollback initiative. Michael Richards (left), vice president for college relations, left Sunday for the duration of the legislature's session. President Gerald R. Sherratt will attend the legislature's opening session and draw up plans with Utah's Council of Presidents. Rollback proposal endangers education BY REBECCA WATERCOLOR EXHIBITION WARMS THE WINTER HEART AT BRAITHWAITE. SEE PAu7 ROMPS ON DETAILS ON FRESNO-PACIFI- PAGE 10. WINSOR "If the tax rollback initiative were passed, the implications to higher education in Utah would be catastrophic," said Michael D. Richards, SUSC vice president for college relations. The proposal has two initiatives that would affect higher education. The first would set a ceiling on property tax of 0.75 percent of fair market value on all (evidential dwellings and one percent on commercial properties. For higher education, this would mean a $24 million loss of funds or the equivalent of closing of two of the state's community colleges, College of Eastern Utah and Dixie College, according to current school budgets. The second initiative would roll back last year's tax hike. This would mean an additional $20 million loss of funds. Richards said the initiative could close down Weber State College, or half of Utah State University. Darin Bird, ASSUSC state and local political liaison, added it could also close the University of Utah Medical Center. The effects on SUSC could be devastating. Because of the six percent budget cut last year, SUSC students saw the elimination, reduction, or combination of several departments and programs. Faculty and staff positions were also cut to reflect lost programs. Administrative and institutional support programs were also cut or reduced. Tne college also placed a moratorium on new programs. addition, a 10 percent surcharge was added to both tuition and fees for winter and spring quarters. And for In the 1987-8- 8 school year tuition went up six percent. the 1988-8year tuition will increase six percent at two year institutions and eight percent at four year schools. The raise is expected to bring in $7 million. If the rollback were passed, tuition would have to be For 9 raised nearly 50 percent to make up the difference. Richards said that if the proposal passed students would probabF be anected as eady as 1989. He said the threat of the tax rollback is very real and that state officials are seriously considering their options including the closing of schools and possible elimination of schools and colleges within the institutions. According to the student lobby report from the Utah Student Association, the loss of "$40 million would be trimmed from the higher education budget possibly resulting in the closing of some institutions, the loss of valuable faculty, weakened educational credibility and restricted access. In other words, many Utah students could be denied entrance and might not get the education they need." In order to get the proDOsal on the 1988 ballot supporters will need to get at least 67,000 signatures of registratered voters with a certain percentage from each county, said Richards. (continued on page 5) |