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Show WEEKLY REFLEX DAVIS NEWS JOURNAL, SEPTEMBER 11. 1980 Island Hoes To By GARY R. BLODGETT ANTELOPE ISLAND Utah Parks and Recreation Division has been given immediate occupancy of Antelope Island for future development of a state park. THE ORDER was granted last week by Second District Court Judge J. Duffy Palmer after an earlier ruling had been made following a week-lon- g court hearing. Judge Palmer said the Utah Parks and Recreation Division could receive immediate occupancy of the island upon payment of $1,800,750 to the Davis Court Clerk. ALSO, THE judge ordered that Anschutz Corp., owners of the island, would retain possession of all oil, gas and mineral rights on the island pending the outcome of a condemnation suit. Announcement of the court decision to allow the state to take control of the island was made earlier this year but was not binding at that time because it was in the form of a memorandum decision rather than a court order, it was explained. JUDGE PALMERS first order also gave the state all mineral rights, but the order signed last Thursday by the judge gives the land owners the right to hunt for and extract oil, gas and minerals. Gov. Scott M. Matheson said, We have funds for this purpose (to make down payment) and 1 have instructed the director of the State Division of Parks and Recreation to make this deposit immediately. THE GOVERNOR further stated that he is elated over the issuance of this order and what the development of Antelope Island can mean to Utahs future recreation. Voters To Decide Between Tax Exemption Or Relief Voters will have to decide whether they want property tax relief or a food tax exemption. This was the conclusion of Utah Foundation, the private tax research organization, in a study of the initiative proposal to exempt food from the state sales tax. This initiative proposal is one of several measures which will be decided upon by Utah voters in November. FOUNDATION analysts point out that a food tax exemption would reduce state revenues by approximately $60 million per year, and that if such an exemption is approved by the electorate in November, it is extremely unlikely that the property tax relief program begun in 1979 could be continued. In fact, the governor recently recommended that the Legislature temporarily suspend the property tax relief program this year to help meet a prospective revenue shortfall in 1980-8If the food tax is eliminated, it would add to the revenue shortage and probably require an increasein some other tax. According to the Foundation, a $60 million reduction from a food tax exemption is equivalent to one of the following: 1. A STATEWIDE property tax hike of 10.8 mills ($10.80 per $1,000 assessed valuation), or 2. An increase of 0.8 percent of the state sales tax rate on nonfood items, or 3. AN ACROSS-the-boar- d increase of about 19 percent in Utahs individual income tax. At the present time approximately half the states provide for an exemption on food items. Most of the states (including Utah) that adopted the tax in the 1930s do not exempt food. States that imposed the tax in later years, however, generally provide for such an exemption. ACCORDING to the report, "contrary to popular opinion, the greatest tax savings from a food tax exemption would not go to the poor and the elderly but rather to the wealthy." The study presents data showing that the tax savings from a food tax exemption to a high income family would be more than twice that for a "povertyline family. Similarly, the tax savings to a retired couple generally would be small compared to e that received by a family. THE STUDY explains that e while a family may spend a smaller proportion of their income on food that a family or a retired couple, the dollar expenditure for food usually will be greater. Thus, the tax savings from food tax exemption high-incom- low-inco- also would be greater. Among the major arguments presented for exempting food are the following: 1. A FOOD tax exemption would make the sales tax less regressive. 2. Food is a basic necessity of life and should not be taxed. of two weeks groceries each year. 4. About half the stales currently do provide for such an exemption. 5. A TAX on food adds to its cost and therefore is inflationary. 6. Low income families and the elderly frequently fail to take advantage of other special tax credits and rebates as provided by law. THE GOVERNOR also noted that the court order will allow the division to beginjudi-ciou- s development and use the island for park and recreation purposes during the interim period required for condemnation proceedings to be completed and subsequent final judgement by the court regarding the disposition of the prop- erty. The final disposition and sale price of the land are still in litigation. The Utah Legislature has appropriated $3.73 million to buy the island and the U.S. Interior Department has offered another $1.5 million from the Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund. BUT LAND owners have asked as high as $9 million for the property which they say is abundant with minerals and has possible oil and gas deposits. The entire island is comprised of about 25,000 acres of which the state owns and has already partially developed 2,000 acres on the north tip of the island. PRELIMINARY plans for development of the entire island to be done over several years as money becomes availwill include a loop able road from one end of the long island to the other. When this is completed, the loop road would tie together Interstate Highway 80 West on the south end of the island to Interstate Highways 15 and 80 East on the north end. The le Syracuse causeway would continue to be used to carry traffic from the island to the mainland on the north end. OTHER preliminary Winners in Layton Hills Mall Opening Two Layton residents were recent winners in the grand opening drawing at the Layton Hills Mall PhoneCenter Store. pick up her prize right after work. EVONNE MOYES of 1669 North 2125 West, Layton, won the first place prize of a trip for two to San Francisco. When her husband was told of her place winners, and 100 contestants won a for fourth place. These 107 winners came from more than 5,000 entries submitted. Contestants entering the drawing came from throughout Davis and Weber counties and as far away as Box Elder County. LETTERS HAVE been sent to all winners to notify them of their prize. winning the trip, he said, Thats great, weve never won anything before. Rae House, also of Layton, won a Panasonic video recorder as the second place winner. She was at work when told of her winning and came to THERE WERE five AM-Fradios awarded to third prop- osals call for a large wildlife refuge to remain on the island in a primitive state. Also kept in a primitive condition will be the old homestead located near the center of the island which is believed to be more than 100 years old. Senior Citizens Hot Line Seniors, the Heritage Cen- ter is sponsoring a trip to He-bto go on the famed wHever er Scenic drives, trails, hiking and strolling off-stre- et paths as well as swimming facilities will also be developed on the island, according to State Park and Recreation plans. A VISITORS information center is planned on the north end and there will be very limited commercial development allowed on the island. Creeper. The trip is for Oct. 3. Call the reservations. There approximate charge shheduled center for will be an of $10 for ticket and transportation, lunch will be extra. A stop at a restaurant will be made. FALL CLASSES are being planned. Bridge class will begin soon. How many of you would like to play a game of pinochle after lunch at the center? There are several activities available for those of you who come to the center. IF YOU havent taken the time to come to the center, why not come in and take a look, have lunch, join in a class, or play a game of billiards. Ask at the desk any questions you may have. Rummago Sale Meet Sept. 16th The Utah KAYSVILLE Association of Women, Heights region is having Dr. Glen Griffin speak on Sex Education in the Home. The date is Sept. 16 at Kays-ville-Fr- 7:30 p.m. in the Morgan Elementary School in Kaysville. A SEMINAR which includes talks by Dr. Griffin will soon be released by Covenant Recordings to help parents build successful families. And Flavor Your husband gets a lot of sentiment out of his pipe, doesnt he? Indeed he does. Its perfectly disgusting to see him clean it. The Foundation report another initiative proposal appearing on the 1980 ballot which would roll back property assessments to the 1977 level and limit the property tax to 1 percent of this artificially defined market value. THIS MEASURE would reduce local property taxes by $75 to $100 million per year. If both this measure and the food tax exemption were approved in November, it could create havoc in Utah state and local finances. Senior Citizens Meeting Sept. 18 The regular monthly meetdinner for the Happy K-Senior Citizens Club of Kaysville and Farmington will be held at the Davis High School cafeteria at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 18. ing and F THERE WILL be dinner served, entertainment and door prizes. Pres. Leo Kinsman and other officers invite all persons age 60 and over to come out and enjoy the afiemoon with them, and to meet old friends 376-260- 4; 376-483- 1: YOUR FURNACE HAS THE FLUE AND LOTS OF OTHER PARTS, TOO. Once a year it's a good Idea to give all of them a little doctoring up. Call your licensed heating contractor, plumber or furnace dealer and have him on your do a simple check-ufurnace. He will: p Inspect flues, and clean them if necessary. Clean or replace filters Oil motor Check blower belts Check automatic controls (pilot, burner etc.) A properly maintained furnace saves fuel, saves you money and has less chance of mechanical failure during the heating season. Get the bugs out now, before the rush. Your furnace and you will feel better for it. cool-weath- er Trusting Souls "Why is it," asked a visitor to the United States Mint, "that they stamp 'In God We Trust on the pennies?" That, explained the guide, "is for the benefit of the who use them for !eople The closed heel and toe pump is making a comeback this fall. Some feature bows. The box jacket will be worn with skirts, pants and evening dresses. Some jackets are made of quilted fabric, others are woven acetate brocade ! ? notes that further complicating the Utah financial picture is 451-218- 1; Fashion Tips with golden metallic fiber. te IF YOU have not been contacted by Thursday evening, Sept. 1 1, call one of the following members for reservations. Minnie Lund, Farmington Vera Rouechc, Kaysvil-I- c Velma Benton, or Emily Kaysville Ashby, Kaysville Mr. Kinsman would like everyone to join them for their dinner meetings and socials during the coming fall and winter season, np 825-281- 2, 776-014- 8, fund-raisin- tourists, it would require an added tax on Utah residents. that you have not seen all summer. You are invited to attend whether you are a member of the club or not. i The Lakeview Business and Professional Womens Club will hold its first business and dinner meeting at the Wrangle Restaurant in Roy on Thursday, Sept. 1 1 at 7:30 p.m. The dinner is open to anyone interested. Reservations may be made by calling Judy Bezoski, Gloria Ashby or Marianne Gault THE PUBLIC and UA of W i members are invited to attend. I NEW MEMBERS being inDr. Glen C. Griffin has writ- stalled include Marianne ten a series of books for chil- - ! Gault, young career woman of dren and teenagers which tells the year; Hettie Wheadon and boys and girls about their fasciCharlene Little. in an bodies enchanting nating g event The first way, and "Not About Birds, of the year will be a rummage an informative and readable sale to be held at the Davis book for teenagers. The books Drive-i- n in Layton on Sept. 13 are specific in explaining about from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. sex, but convincingly define and explain the benefits of morality. 2. THE exemption might necessitate a tax increase in one or more of the other major taxes. 3. It would greatly complicate the tax collection machinery, especially for the small business establishment. 4. BY exempting food from the state sales tax but not from local taxes, it would create additional administrative burdens. 5. It would reduce state general fund revenues by 13'2 percent and cause serious disruptions in essential state services, such as welfare, health, safety, education, etc. 6. SINCE PART of the tax is collected from September 13 394-431- 9. ARGUMENTS against exempting food, on the other hand, are listed as follows: 1. Since a food tax exemption would provide larger tax savings to the wealthy than it would to the poor, it is an extremely inefficient way to furnishing tax relief to low income families. 376-213- 3. EXEMPTING food would give everyone the equivalent It is a primary hurdle that we have finally crossed in our efforts to acquire all of Antelope Island for future development of a State Park, he said. We can now proceed with our development plans. The island as a state park will be ingreatly needed to meet the creasing demands for recreation near the states center of population." UAWTo Layton Residents MOUNTAIN FUEL For more than fifty years, people serving people |