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Show 2 The Magna TimesWest Valley News, Thursday, March 18, 1999 Government Do you qualify for S.L. County property tax relief programs? by KIM FOLSOM STAFF WRITER Salt Lake County Treasurer Larry Richardson has been closely working with changes this year that the Utah State Legislature has enacted in Tax Relief programs. He is most interested in seeing that elderly and other county property owners who could qualify for needed property tax relief programs check into their application status. Richardson advised that his office is now processing applications for 1999 property tax relief. Tax relief programs are available primarily to the elderly, those who are blind, and disabled veterans. Richardson noted that the income limit to qualify for tax relief is increased to $22,024 in 1999. That low-inco- County Treasurer Larry Richardson talks with Governor Mike Leavitt increase and other enhancements enacted by the 1998 Legislature will result in a significant increase in available tax relief in 1999. The County Treasurer also has forms and information to help those who rent receive a refund from the State of Utah. Richardson recently explained the benefits available under these tax reduction programs. "Our goal is to assure that all qualifying homeowners receive the tax relief provided by law. In 1998, we were able to reduce the property taxes of 6,500 homeowners by a total of $2.5 million under the four programs available to homeowners" said Richardson. The largest program is commonly referred to as the "circuit breaker" tax abatement. The "circuit breaker" abatement is available to age 65 or above who had 1998 household income of $22,024 or less. Household income includes all income from all sources of all the members of one household. home-owne- rs significant changes in the disabled According to Richardson, "About 5,000 homeowners qualified for this abatement in 1998. The maximum abatement in 1999 is $587 for a qualifying household." The 1999 tax relief application deadline is September 1, 1999. The County Treasurer also administers the indigent tax abatement, "tax relief for the poor', as allowed by the state constitution. The indigent abatement is a needs-base- d program with the same age limits and income limits as the "circuit breaker" program. veteran's exemption. These changes are effective in 1999. "In 1999, qualifying disabled veterans are eligible for an exemption of up to $82,500 in the assessed value of their principal residence." Prior to 1999, the limit was $30,000. Application forms were mailed in January, and must be returned to the County Treasurer by September 1, 1999. Contact the Salt Lake 0 County Treasurer's Office at and choose option 1 to request application forms or to get more information or visit and write to the Salt Lake County Treasurer's Office, Tax Relief Division at 2001 South State Street N1200 Salt Lake City, Utah 84190-125- 1 These programs are available to all Utahns. In most counties, the County Auditor administers the tax relief programs. If you live outside Salt Lake County, contact your County Auditor for more information. accounts, retirement accounts, and other resources must be considered in determining eligibility for the indigent abatement. "About 3,000 homeowners qualified for the indigent abatement in 1998," said Richardson. Richardson also noted that "The maximum abatement in 1999 is $587." Tax exemptions are provided for disabled veterans and the blind. The 1998 State Legislature made Committee aims to smooth transaction to new county mayor-counc- il government of Salt Lake County government STAFF WRITER consisting Salt Lake County Commission Chief of Staff and Heather Mastakas, management analyst for Community & Support Services, are spearheading the Change in County Government Transition Team. According to Mastakas, "It is a loosely structured committee of county employees that is looking to make the transition smooth into the new County MayorCouncil Government. In the last election in November, Salt Lake County voters voted to change the present governing form MAGNA TIMES USPS 325-58- 0 Second class postage paid at Magna, Utah 84044 8980 West 2700 South Magna, Utah 84044 J. HOWARD STAHLE Publisher BONNIE STAHLE of three County "County Executive-Counc- il Form" which separates executive and legislative powers. The proposed change modifies the present commission form of government by replacing the three county commissioners with an county executive and ge council. Six members of the council would be elected by district to staggered four-yea- r terms, while three memnine-memb- bers would be elected to terms. The prostaggered posed change would retain without change all other elected officials within the County (Assessor, District Attorney, Auditor, Clerk, Recorder, Sheriff, Surveyor, and Treasurer). All legislative and policy-makin- g powers, including planning and zoning, ordinance, tax levies and budget approval, would be vested e in a County Council. All supervisory, administrative and managerial responsibilities would be vested in a County Mayor. The Mayor would serve full-tim- e and have veto power over ordinances and budgets passed by the Council, which could be overridden by a vote of of the Council. The change will become effective January 1, 2001, with the new county officers being elected November 7, 2000. According to Marshall and Mastakas, there are two major concerns in the implementation of the new form of government First, state statutes and county ordinances fit the new form of government starting with Title 17. Two counties already have this kind of government in the state. Cache and Grand Counties. The former Cache County attorney has been of great help in understanding some of the legal issues in making the change, according to Marshall. Bill Hyde and Gavin Anderson are working on the legal aspects of the project from the District Attorney's office. The other major concern is staffing and facilities for the new council. Although staffing for the new council members is not significant in number, when you look at the size of the county staff there will still be many issues regarding internal procedures and staffing. six-ye- ar part-tim- day-to-d- Advertising Manager Office Manager GENE JEFFERIES Advertising Sales GARY R. BLODGETT Editor DEANNA JONES Arts & Entertainment Editor Production Manager ALAN BLAIN Staff Writer SHARON LINSCHOTEN Staff Writer DONA BIERMAN Staff Writer W. KENT GOBLE Sports Writer DALE SIMONS Sports Columnist DANNY JOHNSON Typesetter Copyright, Magna TimesWest Valley News rights reserved. Reproduction, reuse, or transmittal of all matter herein Is prohibited without prior written permission by the publisher or editor. G. All The Magna Times and West Valley are published each Thursday Subscription $18 per year $21 per year out of state Postmaster Sand change of address to: Magna Times 8980 W. 2700 So. Magna, ITT 84044 (801)250-565- or FAX Tim (801) Mtgnt Tlnmt is a bonUtad newspaper Member of rhe Utah Pnn Anoctahon Marshall says, "Salt Lake County Commissioners, and be replaced by a two-thir- mid-summ- To remain closed until has less staffing for the Commission than most mayor type governments. Right now we are trying to find out what would be reasonable and needed for the council's staff." Marshall and Mastakas both feel that the Commission has been concerned about the change so they have been supportive of the transition team. Marshall believes that the County staff will be very valuable to the success of the transition. Mastakas said, "The staff also looked at other MayorCouncil governments outside of Utah to get a solid base on the issues that we will face. The Council Elected Mayor is not the norm of county government around the country so there are only a few example even nationally." Marshall said, "Theory in Utah is that legislative and executive branches need to be separated, so that is what has fostered the change." He admits that staffing will be increasing but he sees that as the result of growing needs and service demands of a growing county. Although the three council members will have six-ye- ar terms, Marshall sees personalities having more impact than length of term. In any case, Marshall and his talented staff will have the county as prepared as possible for the new government in 2001 and most of the major roadblocks to a smooth running county should have been mid-Augu-st 3100 S. closed between Bangerter and 4000 W. for improvements 468-340- Savings by KIM FOLSOM This is the second closure of 3100 South as part of a mammoth improvement project of a storm drain- - The until stretch of road is closed to through-traffi- c by GARY R. BLODGETT crete removal began March 15, and EDITOR Harper crews started installation of the sewer line March 17, according to MacArthur. During the next five months traffic will be regulated - or restricted from the construction area. Earlier, 3100 South was closed between 3200 and 3600 West for the same type of work. This area will be closed until the first week of April traffic will be when north-sout- h allowed on 3200 and 3600 West, MacArthur explained. Harper Contracting has submitted a traffic-conti'plan to West Valley City officials, recommending the use of 3500 South, Parkway Boulevard, and the 2100 South 48-in- 3100 South between Bangerter Highway and 4000 West in West Valley City has been closed for major improvements, it was announced this week by Harper Contracting, Inc., general contractor for the $15 million project This section of 3100 South will be closed until Aug. 15, 1999. Mike MacArthur, Harper Contracting project engineer, said closure of 3100 South began last Tuesday, and work started on installation of a new water line last Friday. Excavation of the road and con Freeway as alternate routes. The road (3100 South) will be open to local traffic only. However, residents living in the construction area are urged to use and park on side streets when possible. A speed limit will be strictly enforced. Granger-Hunte- r Improvement District and West Valley City are sharing the widening of 3100 South and the water and sewer improvements being made in the $15 million project 'To minimize inconvenience to residents, construction has been accelerated by having two crews doing installation on the same project," MacArthur said. ol Utah supports National WWII Memorial by DONA BIERMAN votes also were unanimous in favor STAFF WRITER of the bill. The patriotic measure now awaits the anticipated signature of Gov. Michael Leavitt. and united supThe broad-base- d of Utah's military veterans' port community propelled unanimous legislative approval. Supporters of the memorial campaign include Utah is now the second state in America to pass legislation allocating funds to support construction of a World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., according to information from Dean Ledbetter, office assistant for the Office of Veterans' Affairs, Department of Community and Economic Development in Salt Lake City. The state legislation appropriates $79,000 for the national memorial, representing one dollar for each Utah World War II veteran. The 1999 Utah Legislature made history Feb. 16 when the Senate voted 27-- 0 in favor of House Bill 316, sponsored by Rep. Don Bush, This action followed a 73-- 0 favorable vote by the House , Feb. 16 and bipartisan funding approval by House Republican and Democratic caucuses Feb. 23. House and Senate committee WVC ilous time to save America from tyranny. Bush is a U.S. Navy World War II veteran who knows firsthand of the sacrifices made in combat. LaVonne Willis, Utah State Director of Veterans Affairs, stated, "By unanimously passing this legislation, the Utah Legislature sent a strong message of appreciation to Utah's World War II veterans and, in a larger sense, to World War II veterans and descendants through out America." ) The successful legislation is part Camof a nationwide, service organizations of Utah's American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, and Veterans of Foreign Wars, and also the Utah Office of Veterans Affairs, Governor's Veterans Advisory Council, Utah Intertribal Veterans Association, and Utah Military and Veterans Affairs Committee. "I am hoping this National World War II Memorial will help future generations know what true patriotism is and help them remember to keep vigilant, so that such a war never happens again," said Bush. He added that the national memorial will be a tribute to those who served in such a per long-overd- ue state-by-sta- te paign of the American Battle . Monuments Commission to raise one dollar for each World War II veteran that served from the respective states. t Nebraska ranks first and Utah second as leaders in supporting the memorial's construction. Groundbreaking is scheduled for Veteran's Day, 2000. employees top list of United Way donors West Valley City employees give from their heart e The city's 70 employees were honored recently by United Way at the agency's Celebration Luncheon. Employees contributed $13,321 to the United Way of the Great Salt Lake Area doubling the donation of a year ago. "We would like to thank West full-tim- - Valley City for making a difference in our community by running such an outstanding 1998 campaign," said John Minson, a United Way representative. He noted that the contributions will support community programs that promote the importance of education among the youth, sustain safe neighborhoods, and help peo- t pBunBcgtor): od,Bod1? Write a letter to the editor! Mai! Qttr5 to EDITOR, MAGNA TIMES & WEST VALLEY NEWS, 8980 West 2700 South, Magna, UT 84044 pie toward lifelong independence. He said the city also increased its number of "leadership givers" from two to nine. A leadership giver is considered one who donates at least $1,000. The average donation among the 70 employees was $190. C. Ted Nguyen, director of community and government relations for West Valley City, said that most of the employees donations were from payroll deductions. "It's rewarding to see people who are dedicated to public service, but who also contribute to the commu- nity financially," said Nguyen. "United Way is a good cause and we hope to continue the same level of financial commitment" POOR C( |