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Show UTAH STATc v Tm if,4Z:"T3 oo'sn.21'- puss cmso'HTAH t UTAH S7ATP ' :- - '9.-- ' sUl 1 I THURSDAY, JANUARY ufiujtso:t VI 21, 1982 VOLUME y Ini K a AI By MARK D. MICKELSEN - CLEARFIELD Proposed state legislation which would allow communities the option of raising local sales tax by one quarter of a cent may make statewide sales tax distribution more equitable for the smaller cities, Clearfield City Council members were told. THE CITY council avoided any outright support of House but listened closely Tuesday as proponents of the bill lashed out at the current system of sales tax distribuBill-2- 5, tion. Sunset Mayor Norm Sant, an outspoken member of the states Revenue and Taxation Committee, said although communities throughout the region continue to provide a majority of the services needed by residents, in all this shuffle of taxes, the cities are constantly being forgotten. THE MAYOR pinpointed several historical events including the growth of railroads which have and highways se- riously altered the smaller cities chances of developing a commercial tax base. Because of the location of railroads, highways and popu- lation centers. Mayor Sant said some cities have not had as great an opportunity to de- velop commercial business .. NUMBER X FORTY-SI- DnD r4 H districts WHAT CONCERNS some of us, he said, is the fact that all of us spend our money throughout the state. At the same time, he said some of the smaller cities do not receive as great a portion of the sales tax. As a result of disputes over sales tax distribution, city officials joined together several years ago hoping to work out a split with the legislature. 50-5- 0 of a ly. only cent are distributed back to the basis. cities on a Mayor Sant explained that while legislators feel there is a lot of unnecessary "fat at the three-quarte- year-to-ye- community level. "We feel that tax issues are best understood at the local level." JOHN THACKER, Kaysvil-l- e city administrator and another supporter of HB-2- explained that if Clearfield participates in the proposal, on a split basis, the city's share of the sales tax cut w ill jump from $415,628 to over 50-5- 0 MAYOR SANT said a 0 split was accepted by lawmakers, but was vetoed by the governor who called the proposal unconstitutional. As a result. Mayor Sant and officials from several other Utah communities formed a Revenue and Taxation Committee, believing that a 0 tax split was still the best concept. 70-3- 50-5- AFTER REVIEWING population growth and the long and short-tereffects of the proposal, we finally came down to a split on a five year phase in, the mayor said. Under the proposal, cities would receive 50 percent of the taxes at point of collection and 50 percent based on population-over a five year period. 50-5- 0 IN ORDER to participate, however. Mayor Sant said cities may have the option of raising local sales taxes by of a cent. Current- v n v , v ixt m-- v SEVENTY-SI- j ? $633,000. The figures are based on Clearfield's decision to raise local sales tax by of a cent. Mayor Sant pointed out that if the city decides to raise the tax "it would be a good idea" to lower the mill levy. This, he said, may prompt residents to spend their money in the city, rather than shopping in nearby towns where the additional tax has not been imposed. one-quart- er IF HB-2- 5 passes, communities will have the option of raising the sales tax or leaving it the same. In either case, the split will benefit all entities, proponents agree. HB-2- 5 will be introduced before the 1982 legislature during the current budget session. Mayor Sant said. The bill's 50-5- 0 Lamont are sponsors Lake, and Carl Sanders of Plain City. Richards-Sa- lt r- ? s & S' w It was a gorgeous day in Davis County last Friday as a high front moved in and moved the smog out of the valley. The air was crystal clear and visibility across the valley was almost infinity. Even the area around the refineries was clear. Along with the change in weather including above normal temperature came melting snow and for many a touch of spring fever. Even the deer, which had CLEAR, COOL WEATHER - - been grazing in backyards along the Wasatach Front, began moving back into their natural habitat of the higher ranges. Approval Given To one-milli- - BOUNTIFUL The Wasatch Front Regional Council voted unanimously Thursday to seek out prospective operators and investors for a proposed n dollar Davis County resource recovery plant. WFRC DIRECTOR Wilbur Jefferies said plans for the e-burning plant are in the final stages and noted that qualification sheets have been sent out to a number of resource recovery firms nationwide. Legal, technical and financial experts working on the project are expected to narrow down the list of potential candidates sometime this week. According to Mr. Jefferies, nine companies have already multi-millio- garbag- submitted proposals for re- view. THE RESOURCE recovery plant, to be located in north Davis County, will be privately constructed and operated. ' Community leaders from throughout the county will be responsible for handling administrative duties over a period. At present, there are three site locations being considered for the plant. Most are in close poximity of Hill AFB whose officials have agreed to buy steam heat produced by the plant. 20-ye- i WORK ON the resource re- -, covery idea began nearly a year and a half ago, with both :Salt Lake and Davis Counties interested in the develppment of a plant. While Salt Lake County officials are still supportive of resource recovery, Mr. Jefferies said progress on the Salt Lake facility has fallen behind schedule. BOTH SALT Lake and Davis Counties have passed bond inducement resolutions totalling several million dollars so that if, and when the plants are constructed, there will be sufficient industrial revenue bonds available for construction. Until a company is chosen to build and operate the Davis County facility, Mr. Jefferies says the WFRC will act as the proxy representative for bonding transactions. More than $60 million in industrial revenue bonds have been set aside for the Davis County plant. MR. JEFFERIES noted, however, that there is some state legislation pending which would prohibit entities from using IRBs for the development of electricity-producin- g plants. He said the 1982 legislature is expectepl to review an amendment to the law, known which would as Senate Bill-2allow developers to resource recovery plants whose facilities do generate electricity to be exempt from such restrictions. IN THE interim, Mr. Jefferies told the council the time has come for government officials to choose bond experts and council to handle the prospective development. In Davis County, a group of eastern bondsmen has been working on financial plans for the $40 million plant. According to Mr. Jefferies, the men have been working without pay and will continue to do so until bonds are issued for development of the facility. HE POINTED out, however, that work completed by the existing bond experts does not insure their permanence in the resource recovery project. He said government leaders may want to oust the existing bondsmen when the project gets under way and choose someone else. Mr. Jefferies warned, however, that if the bondsmen are not retained they may take all of their paperwork with them, forcing the council to begin project work all over again. WEBER COUNTY Com. Boyd K. Storey said although there is no firm commitment to the resource recovery project, the WFRC does have a respon- sibility to those who have worked on the preliminary plan. The council's decision Thursday to seek out potential operators for the Davis plant kicks off the final planning phase of the resource recovery investigation. CITY AND county officials will soon be asked to choose a site for the plant and to say whether or not they want to participate in the project over a period. 20-ye- Water Deposit Fees Increased In Clfd. CLEARFIELD The Clearfield City Council has approved a five dollar increase in water deposit fees in an effort to offset deficits caused by delinquent and unpaid water bills. THE CHANGE means newcomers to Clearfield will have to pay $30, rather than $25 when the city turns on their water. The revised ordiance also gives the city the option of applying the deposit to unpaid water bills in the event a resident skips out or fails to pay. ACCORDING to city attorney Alf VanWagenen, the ordinance requires the city to return the unused balance of a residents water deposit unless the amount is under five dollars, or if the depositor cannot be found. Asked by Councilman H. Kay Chandler why there is a need to raise the fee, Atty. VanWagenen said city officials reached the decision after a great deal of discussion. CITY MANAGER Gayle Starks said many unpaid water bills go over the $25 mark, forcing the city to pick up the balance. As in the past, residents will not receive any interest payments on the deposits. THE ORDINANCE revision passed by a unanimous vote of the council, mdm KAYSVILLE county in population but have no institutions of higher learning. We need to have our own vocational training facility. For the first time we have more people working here than elsewhere were now a viable, growing county," he added, putting down The Davis an automotive diesel shop. THAT WOULD dear the way to remodel the existing two buildings to house additional classes, free up some space being rented from the school district and put a start to a proposed campus for the fledgling vocational center. Jack Shell, who has headed the center since its designation On Jan. 7 the Layton City Council gave approval to the Tanner Memorial Clinic to sell dollars worth of industrial revenue bonds in order to expand the existing Tanner Clinic. The addition to the building will be built on the west and will be two stories high. By MARK D. MICKELSEN high schools and elsewhere. Area Vocational Centers director is pretty positive the light will stay green to let the dirt fly for construction of Sell Revenue Bonds ACCORDING TO Dr. Noall Z. Tanner who was present at the council meeting, the market for these revenue bonds is good. Dr. Tanner, who suffered a minor heart attack six months ago, returned to the clinic this past week. He will see his patients three days each week during the future. By TOM BUSSELBERG as a ' area state-sponsor- vocational facility since 1977, feels confident approval will make it past not only the legislature but also the Governor's signature for the $2 million appropriation: $1.7 million for the new building, the rest for remodeling; along with a $100,000 initial payment to the school district for the district-bui- lt buildings the center currently uses. LAST YEAR, the center went from a 23rd rating on the list of state building priorities to fourth and then the governor vetoed a $1 million-plu- s appropriation. Mr. Shell says the governors agreed not to pull that move again. And the countys legislative delegation has given its backing, as well. The directors quick to point to a lot of reasons behind needing the new facility, that, if approved, could see a ground- breaking this summer and completion by early 1984. Faced with growth of 3 percent a year (up to 1,400-plu- s 22-2- enrollment during 1981), the center is using facilities the school district says it needs to meet growing pains of its own (increases of more than 1,000 students yearly). of pressure to get the DAVC into its own campus. All the legislators are pushing for new facilities, Mr. Shell says, pointing to the fact projections call for a population of nearly 300,000 in about 20 years. While the DAVC would remain in Kaysville, many classes are now held in THERES A lot Were the third largest state-operat- the "bedroom county theory. WITH 12,000 job listings and about 38,000 unemployed statewide, and prospects showing 70 percent of new or replacement jobs requiring vocational training, Mr. Shell says new construction is asked to meet the program needs we have. Let the needs of industry dictate the needs of the future. I was asked how big well get and I had to say I have no idea. The needs of the state will dictate that. If were going to meet the needs well grow. BOTH STATE technical colleges are full with waiting lists as are the two skill centers. We need more and better vocational training facilities, more and better training sooner. Noting 5 percent of the countys graduates go on to college Mr. Shell said only half 60-6- that need a college degree, indicating 50 percent of the students at Utah Technical College of Salt Lake left the University of Utah. IN ADDITION, the center trains those who were previously unemployed or on welfare. Noting it costs more than $10,000 a year (including administration) in welfare payments for a family of three and $15,000 minimum to house a prisoner or $27,000 for client at the Youth Development Center in Ogden, he said that can be reversed through training such as is available at the DAVC. Nearly 100 adults on welfare- programs were trained and placed in jobs last -related year, providing tax dollars instead of taking them out of the taxpayers pockets, he said. Sunset Public Hearing Rescheduled For Feb 4 - SUNSET Sunset officials have rescheduled a Jan. 21 public hearing on the rezoning of 800 North for Feb. 4 at 6:30 p.m. DEVELOPERS WITH property along 800 North are petitioning a rezoning change from R-- l (single-familto 3 (multiples) between 50 West and 250 West, mdm R-- Rowers And Wreaths To Be Removed By Feb. 1st KAYSVILLE - Kaysville THE KAYSVILLE WEEKLY REFLEX 197 'B' North Main St., Layton, Utah 84041 Phone 451-295- 1 Published Weekly by CUPPER PUBLISHING CO. JOHN STAHLE, JR. PUBLISHER Second Class Postage Paid at Layton, Utah SUBSCRIPTION city supervisor, Max Major, reminds the citizens that flow- $4.50 per year ers and Christmas wreaths should be removed from graves of the Kaysville City Cemetery by Feb. I. np $5.50 per year Overseas Subscription Out Of State $15.00 Payable In Advance |