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Show Thursday, August 28, 1997 Messenger Enterprise Page 2 Utah taxes su wau among highest in West Taxes on Utah households as a percent of household income, are the highest among the Western States and 5th highest in the entire United States, according to a recent study by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. Utah's heavy tax burden is due both to Utahs relatively low wages and the strong growth in state and local governmental spending in recent years, said Greg A. Fredde, vice president of the Utah Taxpayers Association. While recent tax reductions have prov ided a small measure of re- lief, increases in government spending continues to outstrip growth in personal income in Utah, he said. The report, which analyzed how Oregon ranked among the other 49 states and the The Demolition Derby was over before it began with this unfortunate accident in Manti on Tuesday, Aug. 19. While the driver was putting the finishing welds on his car, a spark landed on the gas tank and instantly caught fire. By the time the fire department could respond, the car and the entire garage in which it was stored was completely engulfed in flames. The owner could only stand back and watch as this year's dreams of a winning Demolition Derby entry went up in smoke. Cannon visits (Continued from page their involvement in getting District of Columbia, revealed that taxes consumed 6.9 of household income in Utah. Of the in- formed on the issues. When asked what people 1) price of food to where the farmer gained a similar income for work- mining. There is little raw news being reported. Cannon sees daily papers, radio and television news ing his land that he would make developing his land. He responded by stating that there likely was no way to stop the attrition of quality crop land being converted into real estate. But he did point out that he was working hard to remove some compounding ignorance problems by no longer researching and ferreting out the facts rather, these entities report the news based on a centralized media service, which usually obtains its information of the difficulties farmers face, from the people who benefit from such as inheritance tax, which news being reported from a parmakes it impossible for farmers to ticular slant. On the other hand, an pass farms on to their children; he informed citizenry comes from also said that educating the masses citizens who demand responsibilwas important to help people get who don't their ity from the media priorities straight. buy into news as truth, just beLocal papers need to take pocause it was reported on television sitions and deal with the issues. I or even the radio and newspahave found such an intelligent and per. 1 le encouraged active particiinformed citizenry in rural Utah pation on the part of the citizens people are informed and get out with local newspapers and radio to let me know how they feel. They to maintain an environment of are in this active very process we truth. call Comparing Cannon was asked how he town meetings held in more popuwould solve the inequity between lated areas to those in places like the value of land as agriculture as Sanpete, he pointed out a greater compared to its value as developed turnout and active questioning on real estate, short of raising the issues by rural people, indicating could do to make their community a better place, in 30 minutes or less per week. Cannon suggested getting informed about what people along the Wasatch Tront believe, then write letters to the editors of the daily papers and weekly papers to educate people who don't live Oregon at Cannon refers to Brigham Young as the first environmen- - talist. I le advocated the balance of stewardship, production and preservation. Because of ignorance or other less well intentioned Western States, 6.3, 5.9, 5.4, Arizona at 5. 1, Washing4.9, Montana at 4.7 and Nevada and Wyoming at 3.1. The relative low household tax burdens in Nevada and Wyoming are, in part, due to their ability to export large portions of their business tax burden in the form of severance or gambling taxes, noted Fredde. The yield from these taxes lessens the pressure both on household and business taxes. With the exception of the states tourism industry, Utah just doesn't have a niche like Nevada or Wyoming that can carry the burden, said Fredde. Nationally, Wisconsin resi- Pa'd greatest percent of their household income in taxes at Alaskans, benefitting from vast natural resources, had the lowest tax burden, paying only 1.7 of their household income in taxes. This report is consistent with a biannual report published by the , reasons. Cannon believes that Utah State Tax Commission today's so called environmentalist has gone into an which examines household and business tax burdens in Utah and campaign which six other western states. Prelimipreset ves wilderness for a select few based on their wealth and nary data from the FY 1995-9- 6 rephysical ability to access these port also shows the tax burden lands. Policies made in the name shouldered by Utahs households of protecting these lands are out- as the heaviest among the other six rageously restrictive, potentially western states surveyed at 8.4 of off-cours- e, AREA MEETINGS ty Alcofiolics Anonymous QUESTIONS: (801) 427-941- (Jim or Carla) or 8 835-520- harmful to humanity, and can actually damage the env ironment, such as the case of a beetle in St. George. Cannon encouraged people to contact him regarding the issues they face; and to also become informed about pending legislation that may appear to not impact them. The essence of 0 WEATHER for the Manti area Reported by Lee J. Anderson nt is life, liberty and the of pursuit happiness. MESSENGER- THE MANT1 If IESSENGER USPS 3284-000- 0 THE Your Ephraim USPS 1777-200- of local news! se Inc., 35 S. Main, Manti, Utah 84642. Periodicals Postage Paid at Manti, Utah. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Messenger-Enterpri- se 35 S. Main, Manti Ephraim City Reporter Manti High School Sports PROUD MEMBER OF However, the reports differ in the methodology used to classify personal income tax revenues. The Tax Commission report assumes that all personal income tax revenue originates from households, including business income derived from and sole iAIMIEi MR HOCKGV, fOOSBML MID txRCPvDe Greg Dcttingcr MEMBER ASSOCIATION POOL, Max and Beth Call Max Call David Call Tricia Call Karen Buchanan Lynn Schiffinan Manti City Reporter revenues as originating cither from households or businesses. iA Webster's definition: trivia: Insignificant or inessential matters, that which comes from the street, of little importance or significance, trifling, ordinary, commonplace. Beth's definition: trivia: hogwash. My definition: trivia: balderdash, but a lot of fun. By Max Call 1 may be forced to go to Lagoon this year. To psyche myself up for the event, I dug out an old column which 1 wrote the last time I in 1982. Heres what I said: (Remember, this was 15 years went ago. Things have changed somewhat since then). Im sure youve all heard of the lost weekend. Well, Id have been better off if my last one had been lost. My daughter, Judy, invited us to accompany her family to Lagoon for a day of fun. I envisioned us enjo)ing watching the grandkids take in all the rides and associated thrills. Little did I realize what was in store for me. As we went through the gate, we bought all the youngsters allGet one for yourself day passes. It was then that Beth announced: too. You dont need to think Im going to have all this fun by myself. But, dear, I protested. I didnt think that we... Stick out your hand, she commanded. They stamped my wrist and fastened a string bracelet on me which signified that I could ride any ride in the park all day without paying. Ill admit that without paving appealed to me, but I was still hesitant. Shortly thereafter, when we had sent all the others on their own, that daring woman said to me: All right, let's go. Go where? I asked innocenlly. Go riding, she answered demurely. paled. You dont mean...? I asked. I sure do, she gloated. Dont you remember that it was just 44 years ago this summer that you proposed to me right here at Lagoon? I was taken aback. And were going to celebrate that historic event by riding on every ride here, she flamboyantly announced. Yeah, but as I recall it, I made that proposal while out in the lake in a rowboat, countered. i 1 Well, they dont have rowboats anymore, she pointed out, so were going to substitute all these other rides. Come on, well start with the Ferris Wheel. Well, I think I can handle that, I said confidently. As were on top of the Ferris Wheel, she spied the Jet Star. Thats next, she exulted. Now Beth, really, I pleaded. Remember it was just a year ago that I had my operation. I might open that incision. Shut up and fasten your seat belt, that daring woman commanded. After that experience (in which Im sure we must have undergone 15 gs), I suggested, Why dont we try Bulgy the Whale? That looks like fun. Listen, you old goat, that exasperating woman said, Youre too way bulgy for that ride. Come on, the Scrambler is next." Five minutes later and two shades lighter in complexion, pleaded: 1 How about the Merry Go Round?" How about the that daring woman said. I quietly acquiesced, hoping that such action would keep me ofT that new one, the Tidal Wave. It didn't. Now let's try this new one, that silly woman shrieked as she headed for that sinister monstrosity. Couldn't we just take the train ride around the lake? I hesitatingly suggested. Maybe later, that intrepid woman whispered. Well, the Tidal Wave wasn't so bad. After all, it was just like flying in a small airplane and having the motor suddenly quit. Next I agreed to that adventurous womans suggestion that we tackle the Roller Coaster. But I refuse to let loose of the rail and hold my hands up like all those silly teenagers, I firmly insisted. Well go ahead and show your age if you want to, she chided. That did it. I held my hands up just like all those silly teenagers. By now my stomach had settled down and when that" venturesome woman headed for the Musik Express, I didn't even complain. That was pretty good, I beamed, after the ride. Well, I wasn't too impressed, that indomitable woman muttered. How about the Paratroopers?" ation. I was now warming up to the situ- I'm not sure they're safe, that wavering female said. Oh come on. Dont be chicken. Then well try the 1 ly ing Aces" Maybe we should take the Sky Ride. that slowed-dow- n woman said next. That looks safe enough. Looks pretty tame to me, I exulted. But it will take us to the other end where I think the UTO is located. No, no, I wont go! she shrieked. Dont be so demonstrative, I admonished. All the people are looking at us. Lets take that ride in those little Speedway Cars, that calmcd-dow- n woman said. Thats just for kids," I authoritatively said, Come on, UTO here we come. Follow ing the last ride, that cowed woman asked, How about a stroll through Pioneer Village? Why waste your time with that? I blustered. We have our own pioneer village at home. Lets take the Boomerang. Later I proposed: How about the Fun House? Not on your life, that d woman said. Thats where they have all those air jets that blow your skirts over your head. Listen, I said, They havent had a skirt in there since 1962. Now they just use the jets for air conditioning. Well those barrels make me dizzy, she complained. So what else is new? I daringly offered. Without going into all the gruesome details, after the Wild Mouse, Rockets (pretty tame, I thought), Tri Star and Looper, I reluctantly agreed to sit down a few minutes and see if the kids could find us. pale-face- Inc. General Manager Sales Representative NATIONAL NEWSPAPER tA UT 84642 Publishcrs Editor fff j best source 0 Published each Thursday for 50c each, $16.00 a year inside Sanpete County and $19.00 outside Sanpete County, by Messenger-Enterpri- personal income. Both reports employ a similar methodology to determine each state's relative household burden. Each report classifies major tax proprietor partnerships. This assumption slightly inflates the tax burden on households while deflating the business tax burden, said Fredde. ENTERPRISE . . . 1 Colorado at ton at close to the land what our thoughts and concerns are. Using an example of the Central Utah Water Project phase being developed in Diamond ForkSpanish Fork Can) on, it was pointed out that several letters to the editor in Salt Lake papers have demanded that the water, which is intended to go to farms in east Juab County, be used for Salt Lake needs in- stead. That is an example of the conspiracy of ignorance operating in society. 1 1 Utah recorded the heaviest tax burden, followed by New Mexico and Idaho at California and Trivia f GhM5!!! sPEdXiS Buy two 14" Rock-O-Plan- e, $14.49 pizzas ms Redeem this coupon for a FREE -- 2-li- pop or- Buy a 14" Stuffed Crust Pizza Redeem this coupon fora FREE 10" pizza LOTSfl MOTSA PIZZA 101 S. Main, Manti Hours: 835-800- 0 n.m to 10 pm. Theyre closing in five minutes, David announced when he came up. Come on, lets take one more Roller Coaster ride OK, I agreed. I It sit this one out, that resolute woman insisted. And she did. And I did. Not so trivial: I dont know w ho said it, but its certainly true: Youre only as old as you make up your mind to be. |