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Show jCARRTSORTC005 j ' UTAH 307 W Salt PRESS ASSN. 200 S Lake City UT 84101-12- 12 500 VOLUME 90 NO. 14 l THURSDAY. FEBRUARY 19. 1998 MAGNA. UTAH 84044 1 Magna Chamber members told to start planning for retirement early "And thats where retirement Magna Chamber of Commerce members were told last week to solutions become even more comstart planning for their family plex," said Koos. retirement at an early age. For example, she noted, couples Sharon B. Koos, personal finanwith high expectations of travel cial advisor for American Express and "being able to do what they Financial Advisors, emphasized couldn't do while one or both were that every year of delay could be working" face higher cost potential much more than do couples who have done a "just costly." "Retirement needs short and lot of traveling in their younger long-ternot just lives and just want to relax and planning take life easy. mmmmmmmm money," she said. "It's essential that What is going no one has too much to be economiyou know what and no one can start cally feasible? your retirement is Whatever- the expected to cost; too soon to plan and folhow much in liqlow through With their type of planned uid assets .that retirement plans." your have; how fSharon B. Koos much income Personal finance advisor early including will be from your e i American Express FVmM somliiafcterm retirement ' 4 social secuinvestments, she , stressed. rity, and other known incomes; and then what do There are a variety of I need to maintain the same retirement programs - most of which are very good, some being lifestyle as I am now enjoying? She emphasized that it takes a lot more profitable that others, and of complex planning and adjusting some more risky than others. before solutions can be realized "Don't get involved in the high-ris- k and then there is no certainty that markets when you have plenty things will work out as planned. of time to let your investment She noted that "paying off the grow," Koos urged. bills prior to retirement" is like "What it boils down to," she conhaying that much more income cluded, "is that no one has too available for retirement. - and no one can start too "Don't get deeply in debt prior to much soon to plan and follow through retirement," Koos urged. "In fact, with their retirement plans." get out of debt as much as possible." : She noted that most retirements d She said that most problems now encompass nearly of life 20 a revolve to retirement to (15 person's years) yet relating around finances how much or retirees struggle more through how little you have, and what's it's these "Golden Years than any going to cost to live comfortably period of life. after retirement. m - - retirement, - ' peh-sio- n, - ? : ' , - so-call-ed Let Me Call You Sweetheart v Sv ,. Dee and Lucille s V'V,K.4v'r - . Conder-ma- rri sen King and Queen of Hearts at the Magna Senior Center's Valentine Party. Dee, 74, and Lucille, 72, admit to being more in love than ever before. -- -- one-thir- Elderly Neighborhood Watch chairwoman 'puts bite on suspect1 Patience paid off for an elderly WVC woman on duty as a Neighborhood Watch volunteer. Darlene Averett, a Neighborhood Watch chairperson, spotted a motorist cruising through the neighborhood who resembled a suspect she had been told to be on the watch for. "I waited six hours for him," Averett said. "And there he was." It all took place as a man cruised through a Harvey Street neighborhood (36S0 South) with two teenaged boys. "I was waiting for him," said Averett. "He had picked up a juvenile there before and knew that sooner or later he would be back." After notifying West Valley City police, detectives arrested a man that had a prior conviction of sodom. The suspect, Kenny F. Vieregge, had been arrested just the day before on a charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, but was released from jail. The suspect had been released from Utah State Prison about a month ago, and is on parole. West Valley City Police Sgt. Charles Illsey, spokesperson for the WVC Police Department, praised Ms. Averett, Neighborhood Watch volunteers, and Harvey Street Community Oriented Policing (COP), team for their efforts in fighting crime.' "These folks are like gold," he said. . ; Reduce tax appeal problems Salt Lake County's property tax evaluation system needs overhauling, fine-tuni- ng by GARY R. BLODGETT EDITOR Salt Lake County's property tax collection system is badly in need of fixing and County Assessor Lee Gardner is the first to admit it. Although there is some good news mixed with the bad news when it comes to the county's property appraisal, and appeals system, these problems are being worked out, according to Gardner. He noted that there are approximately 280,000 pieces of property appraised each year in Salt Lake County and that less than 4 percent of the property owners find it necessary to go through the appeals process. "But that still leaves more than 10,000 who do use the appeals' system," said Gardner. "Since I am committed to reducing the amount 'of heartburn connected with the system, it is much faster and easier for problems to be resolved informally." He stressed that quite often problems can be resolved as a result of correcting data errors such as the size of a particular building in question. Gardner said his priorities this year include easing the concerns ' . for taxpayers who have .complaints with their property values long before these problems get out of hand. Therefore, he noted, there will be - - - some dramatic changes made this year and in the future that may help transform frustrated property owners into satisfied customers. Gardner unveiled a approach has had initiated: Spend more time reviewing properties as they are initially appealed. Review all properties appealed more than once in the past three years. To ensure equality, solutions identified this year will be applied to future valuations. Make information easily accessible through the County Assessor's Office, the Salt Lake County Library, and through the internet web site. Gardner said there is one major reorganization internally in the Office Assessor's Appraisal Division. "We have been reviewing our options for almost a year in an . - ' ; . Gardner. "Appraisers will be assigned spe- cific geographic areas and will handle the entire appraisal process -- - from start to finish. We feel that this will provide better quality friendlier office assessments, assistance, and greater efficiency." Gardner noted that the prime motivation behind the system overhaul is to reduce the number of property tax appeals. "Too many people are forced to take time from their busy daily schedules, to meet and resolve these appeals," he said. "Our staff is highly professional, so the next best thing we can do is to tune-u- p the system. Gardner explained that by state mandate (law), all real property in Salt Lake County is to be ed annually. ; ' s s' attempt to streamline the operation and essentially eliminate any of work," said duplication ''5- - sv s : s' I -' ""'T A s Ue JKcana Uimes V f Your i-- Community I L'.vcnr.por , f .. |