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Show Volume 32, Number 18 Thursday, May A 22, 1986 Public To Inspect Budget Mo Tax Hike One Tonight; by Ralph H. Goff Green Sheet Staff Writer WEST VALLEY. Mill levies on assessed property values and all the other factors the county used to use are gone, City Finance Director Russ Sanderson commented here this week. Property taxes will now be based market value and will be a on actual percentage of that value, he added. A public hearing is scheduled tonight (Thursday) to solicit input on the nearly $26 million proposed city budget, Sanderson pointed out, and the Truth in Taxation laws adopted by the State Legislature have both simplified and complicated the process of adopting a city budget. As time goes by it will be more understood, he said. Any change is really hard to deal with. It takes a while for people to get adjusted. Calling the previous taxation formulas confusing, he pointed out that taxpayers have been unable to compute taxes and property values without knowing complicated .tax formulas. Under the new taxing Miss Magna system, when the city issues a tax been known to change their minds a little bit scary. percentage, people will be able to sit down and figure it out. West Valley, however, is not anWhile he considers the action by ticipating a tax increase, he said, so the legislature to be an admirable the problems he sees with the new he also had reservations system will not have an opportunity goal, to arise. about the system. The legislature Citizens can probably expect a may have overlooked some crucial tax increase, but it will be coming questions, he contended. from other entities like the school The new law, Sanderson said, is awkward because it could allow a board, he said. The city, he pointed out, has gradually decreased taxes taxing entity to operate on a tentative budget from the end of June from 9.95 mills in 1981 to 7.97 mills t. last year. through A city council could adopt a tenWhether taxes are figured on a tative budget calling for a tax hike, percentage or in mills, people can but because of public pressure, they expect the end result to be the Taxes in he contended. could change their minds before the same, West Valley City have been on the final budget is adopted. decrease. Were probably one of two If this situation happens, he explained, then that city could be in a or so entities in the area that is not real bind. increasing taxes. Operating on the assumption inSalt Lake City, West Jordan, South creased tax monies would be Jordan and a number of other available, contracts could be let out municipalities have published for public works projects or money notices indicating an intent to incould be spent for equipment ancrease taxes, he said, and other taxticipated under the tentative budget. ing entities have also expressed a need for additional funds. in a A lot of things could happen month and a half, especially in the The only place they will see a tax summer, he said. Councils have increase is from some of the entities mid-Augus- other than us - that is if the council adopts the proposed budget. That budget, which the council has -- tentatively adopted, totals for the general, capital improvements and employee trust funds. A separate budget of $455,102 has been set for the City Housing Authority, with a $422,251 budget $25,958,643 tentatively adopted for the Redevelopment Agency. While administrators are encouraging the council to accept the proposed budget as final, there are some risks, Sanderson noted. We dont even know what our percentage is and we wont until June 1, noting the citys certified tax rate will not be issued by the county until that date. Sanderson does not expect the rate to significantly modify financial considerations. Efficiency in government is where taxes are saved, he said. If we dont have the money, we wont spend it. Sanderson said his philosophy is to run city government like a business and make it as efficient as possible. Private industry has been doing it for years, why cant it work in government? he asked. - CZDGT Pageant Entries Sought Council Members Converge On Police, Fire Issue Tonight WEST VALLEY. Emotions are running high as the City Council prepares to tackle the issue of merging fire and police services here tonight (Thursday). A public hearing is scheduled at 6 oclock to address combining fire and police services into a single public safety department. In response to citizen inquiry, a document has been prepared by city officials addressing some of the questions raised about the issue. Titled Fact ... Or Myth?, the document attempts to answer 28 arguments which have surfaced since the proposal was introduced to the council in early April. Concerned Citizens of West Valley, a group opposing the issue, has been gathering signatures on petitions against the proposal. More than 600 signatures were gathered over the weekend alone, CCWV spokesman William Earl claimed. Primarily concerned with the issue of police and fire officers to perform both jobs, CCWV is claiming fire protection services will suffer if personnel is spread too thin. Most individuals do not understand what has been proposed, City Manager John Newman explained. A number of people originally cross-trainin- and Little Mr. Kearns contest, to be held at noon, June 26, in the Kearns Library auditorium. The event will be held in conjunction with the Hometown Days festivities. Registration is required by June 21. Contestants must be 5 to 12 years of age and live within the Kearns boundaries, 3200 West to the Oquirrh Mountains and between 4700 and 6200 South. Contestants will be judged equally on a talent presentation and personal interview, with the talent number not to exceed three minutes in length. The interview will be conducted first and entrants are asked to wear Sunday best for the event. There will be time for them to change prior to presenting their talent number, according to Town Continued on page 6 Zone Change In Taylorsville On Council Agenda A TAYLORSVILLE. proposed zoning change on 3200 West will be considered by members of the n Community Taylorsville-BennioCouncil during a meeting here tonight (Thursday). Before the council will be a request from J. R. Anderson on Paul at Gini for a zone change to 8 5200 So. 3200 West, where a development of 25 residential lots is proposed. Also on the agenda is a presentation by Sherre Burke, calling attention to a potential grasshopper problem. The 7 p.m. meeting will be held at Eisenhower junior high. imum by Ralph H. Goff Green Sheet Staff Writer GRANITE PARK. Calling a proposal a joint venture investment in the future of the sports program, John Reed Call Superintendent warned Granite Board of Education members Tuesday that others will come in, Im sure, with similar proposals. In spite of his warning, the board agreed unanimously to pay a share of the expenses in the installation of stadium lighting on the Skyline high football field. Accepting a proposal by the Skyline Development Committee - a neighborhood group organized to raise funds for improving the schools facilities - the board agreed to pay a third of the costs of installing stadium lighting, with a max -- CROWD . . . About 75 rosidonts Council Chambers Thursday to tho into pockod spook thoir minds on whore tho now City Hall OVERFLOW should bo located. Of 13 people who spoke, II opposed the Gronger park location while two supported the site. Citizens Voice Objections - Slim Maj ority Favors City Hall At Park Site WEST VALLEY. Officials of next West Valley Days confirmed plans this week for a city hall months by Ralph H. Goff Green Sheet Staff Writer Following a 2M hour hearing, plans are on again for groundbreaking ceremonies for the citys new $5 million municipal center during the West Valley Days celebration. 3 vote A divided City Councils an overturned April 10 Thursday Planning Commission decision denying a conditional use permit for WEST VALLEY. - , t to be accomplishing. The city fathers have fallen far short of making this a family-oriente- d community, he contended. Business generates a lot of revenue to support the city, James Thomas said while presenting a petition signed by more than 50 in support of the businssmen Granger park location. "City Hall needs to be on a main Continued on page 6 groundbreaking ceremony and identified the grand prize in a drawing that will be a highlight of the annual celebration. event will be held The two-daJune 27 and 28 at Granger park, the site City .Council last week designated for a new structure to house city government operations. Ground will be broken at 1 p.m. on the 28th, a Saturday when the majority of West Valley Days activities will be conducted. A motorbike valued at more than $600 will be given away as the grand prize in a series of drawings featuring merchandise donated from firms throughout the West Valley business community. Tickets for the drawings will be available by mid-Jun- e from area businesses, according to Bill Barton, general chairman of the celebration. He said tickets for the drawing will also be given to those attending the Friday night Miss West Valley Pageant at Granger high. Businesses wishing to participate in the prize drawings may make arrangements by calling George Floor, 968-012- Along with the pageant, a major addition to the celebration will be a parade from Valley Fair Mall to Granger park on Saturday morning. Those wishing to reserve a spot in the lineup may contact Don Johnson, 968-989- Groups and individuals will be entertaining during the afternoon and evening portions of the celebrations. Gloria Johnson, who may be is handlreached by calling ing arrangements for the entertainment. The celebration, starting off with a breakfast and concluding with a fireworks display, will feature a variety of food, game and craft booths throughout the day. Arrangements for booth reservations may be made by calling Verla Nielson, 966-237- Another new feature of the celebration is the Ugly Truck Contest in which the winner will be able to improve the appearance of his or her vehicle up to a cost of $3,000. Contest rules are available from Gene Guthrie, General information concerning the West Valley Days celebration may be obtained by calling City Hall, according to Karen Leftwich, th celebrations vice chairman. 974-550- Citizens Lend A Hand - An Eye And Ear, Too -- -- WEST is. There are few things that I get excited about, but this is one of them, Darlene Aguilar testified. The design is grotesque, but this, to me, is more of a practical issue. Speaking for girls Bonnett Ball, she noted girls are always given last choice for playing fields and claimed removing the baseball field on Granger park put 'even more pressure on Bonnett Ball by displacing the boys. I hope the city gets its priorities straight and stops worrying about cosmetics, Jerry Smith told the council. He called the removal of Granger park counterproductive to what he envisioned city government d West Valley Days Prize Identified y the proposed structure. All commission decisions are subject to City Council review. Mayor Mike Embley found himself in the hot seat when he cast the final vote in favor of constructing a new city hall in Granger park. An overflow crowd attending the special council session was largely opposed to the park location. Councilmen Pete Winder, Brent Anderson and Duane Moss sided with the park location, while Councilmen Janice Fisher, Claude Jones and Leland DeLange opposed putting the building there. Mayor Embley, who by tradition always votes last, threw the balance to Granger park with his vote. Thirteen of about 100 citizens in attendance testified during the special session dealing with the city hall issue. Eleven of those spoke against the Granger park location, w'hile two testified in its favor. This building is full of people, complete with filing cabinets and cubby holes all over the place Ted Coye told council members of the situation at the present City Hall. Its sort of like putting a sponge in a box - if you get it wet, it will explode, he reasoned. The question I have is is there elbow room in Granger park? I dont believe there outlay of $18,975. the public-privat- e partnership, the board was setting a precedent for similar arrangements at other schools, Dr. Call pointed out. Skyline patrons explained the project would enable games and activities to be conducted during evening hours which would stimulate community attendance. In addition, the increased flexibility in stadium can become a revenue usage source, increasing the gate take for activities there. Dr. Call said a community-basegroup has already been formed in the Granger high attendance area with a similar goal in mind. If you do it for one, you'll be asked to do it for another, he said. The board unanimously agreed, however, to Continued on page 6 tax-doll- In accepting -- 250-248- KEARNS. Members of the Kearns Town Council are inviting members of the community to enter their children in the annual Little Miss - Lighting Okayed on Deadline Set For Kearns 'Little' Contest g against the formation of a public have since changed their minds after studying the proposal. Present members of the police and fire departments will be maintained in their traditional roles as firemen and police officers, he pointed out. These core units will be augmented with public safety officers, fully trained and capable of performing both police and fire duties. Questions concerning crosstraining, as well as other issues which have surfaced surrounding the proposal, are addressed in the fact sheet, he said. This information is available at City Hall prior to tonights hearing for those in- terested in the issue. The public hearing was scheduled when the council tabled the public safety department proposal on April 3 to allow time for further study. A blue ribbon committee appointed in November to study the citys fire service recommended merging the fire and police departments into a single unit as a costcutting measure. It is expected the council will decide tonight whether to accept the plan or retain two separate departments. The hearing will be held in the City Council chambers at City Hall, 2470 So. Redwood Road. safety department But Board Warned MAGNA. The deadline to register for the Miss Magna Pageant is June 1, according to Anna Beth Mecham, The Pageant will be held at 7 p.m. June 14 in the Magna Recreation Center. Application blanks may be obtained at Cyprus high. The contest is open to girls age 16 and older living within the boundaries of the area served by Cyprus high. Contestants will be judged on the basis of poise, charm and talent, but there will be no Miss Utah par- " tlcipatton this yedrr Two girls have entered the contest, Dawn Langford and Kaye Cole, both of Magna. The theme of the pageant will be Reflections. It will include a trip down memory lane with past winners of the contest, who are being asked to contact her at In addition, Mrs. Mecham is requesting anyone who has information about past winners of the contest to get in touch with her as soon as possible. This years winners will receive $100 and $50 savings bonds. All contestants will be given gift certificates from the local stores. Area businesses are contributing money for this purpose and every girl who enters will have a sponsor. Green Sheet Publication OTHER OPTIONS . . . Wallace offered to tell her perty for a City Hall site. Bath pro- VALLEY. Many neighborhoods in the city were wired for sound as police here yesterday (Wednesday) kicked off a new neighborhood watch CB patrol program. It is dubbed West Valley Area Law Enforcement Radio Teams (West Valley ALERT). Groups of citizens will be novv be helping police keep an eye on things by patrolling their own neighborhoods and subdivisions using their own citizen band radios, Police Chief David Campbell explained. If these volunteers notice anything suspicious, they will then call a base station and the volunteer manning the base station, in turn, will telephone police. The West Valley ALERT program is being implemented to promote quicker response time and greater citizen participation in crime prevention," Campbell pointed out. West Valley ALERT is an electronic extension of the current neighborhood watch program, he noted. Police will loan CB radios and base stations to citizens who do not presently have their own, he explained. Citizens interested in participating in the West Valley ALERT program or in the current ground-base- d neighborhood watch system 8 may contact Colleen Terry at for additional information. 974-546- |