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Show Rebuttal to Arguments Against Farming is a vital American industry. Consequently govern ment. particularly the federal government, has established many and varied programs over the last 125 years to assist farmers and American agriculture. This has henefitted all Americans. Because the federal gorerument during the last six gears has done so poorly by American agriculture, I see the present state effort to gice farm aid by way of property tax exemptions on farm equipment as a poor, inequitable, and certainly antifree enterprise manipulation of our state tax system. This exemption should not be allowed in the constitution! Although some farmers are struggling right now, in the future they may not be. The constitution is hard to change. If we place a special exemption in the constitution, it will be hard to takeout later if necessary. The constitution is not the place for an exemption of this sort. The Legislature has already helped farmers through the Green Belt amendment. For example, property used for farming is taxed at a fraction of its value, and all livestock and irrigation equipment is tax exempt. Farmers already benefit from tax breaks that save them millions of dollars in taxes each year. It is no! fair to gice one group of businessmen, in this case farmers, further tax breaks at the expense of other businesses and individuals! To avoid higher taxes which might be imposed groups, I recommend voting AGAINST on other Proposition Senator Karl 2! G. Swan 347 Upland Drive Tooele, Itah 84074 the burden on other Proposition taxpayers. Property taxes, including taxes on land, buildings, and personal property (like equipment and cars), arc established in the Utah Constitution. There are few exemptions, and new exemptions cannot be added without a vote of the people. The constitution intended that everyone pay taxes, because everyone receives the benefits of government. Further exemptions like those proposed by Proposition 2 would make others pay more taxes. 2 would increase Arguments Against Proposition So. 2 Opponents to the passage of Proposition 2 have suggested that exempting farm machinery from property tax is inequitable and unfair because it shifts the tax burden to other property. In fact, it does shift the tax burden and it should because farmers are now paying a disproportionate share of their income on property taxes (nearly 50'U). Please remember that farmers own homes and automobiles and other personal property, too. We must correct the inequity in the tax system to help preserve Utah agriculture, the food machine that feeds us all three times a day. Some argue that such an exemption does not belong in the constitution. disagree. More than Please vote FOR of our legislators two-third- s Proposition 2. Senator Cary G. Peterson 406 East 500 North Nephi, Utah 84648 For those who say we should treat those in agriculture the same as other businesses, we agree. However, there is a law in Utah that allows most businesses to mark their product up at least 6 above cost, before resale. Farmers cannot set their prices, and their products are selling below cost of production. Farmers are caught in the middle. The constitution drafted in 1895 under very different conditions allows for change as conditions change. In 1895 the majority of Utahns were directly involved in agriculture. Now only 2'k are farmers. With the very expensive machinery they use and their products selling below cost, they cannot continue to operate. At least 12 other states, including Colorado, Oregon, Nebraska, and Texas have exempted farm machinery from property tax. Representative Evan L. Olsen 1 2009 South 3200 West, Route Young Ward, Utah 84339 Taxes should be fair! The fairest tax is a broadly-applietax, with few exemptions. Fair exemptions should be given to everyone, or to as many as possible. F.xemptingonlyfariners from property taxes on equipment is not fair. It means taxpayers like you and me will have to bear more of the tax burden. Why farmers and not others? To be fair, this exemption would have to be given to other groups and industries. Taxes on equipment constitute up to 60 of property taxes paid by some industries. Several groups have already asked for a similar exemption. Many of us would like to have our cars exempt from taxes, too. However, exempting everyone from taxes on equipment or cars would cause massive tax increases on homes and businesses. It is not fair to give an exemption like this only to farmers. To keep property taxes fair, and as low as possible, lets not allow exemptions that arc unfair to most Utahns! If we cant grant this exemption fairly, lets not grant it at all. Vole AGAINST Proposition 2! Kepiesentativc Franklin W. Knowlton Box 42fi Layton, Utah 841)41 i $ $ Page 13 |