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Show SOUTHERN UTAH NEWS WEDNESDAY MARCH 29, 2000 News Leavitt Continued, from Page 1 RS2477 roads are the small back throughout ways and rural Utah which cross federal lands. The Governor will work by-wa- ys closely with the Constitutional Defense Council, the Attorney Generals office and affected counties on this project. The bill also clarifies many confusing portions of the existing mineral lease allocation formulas. SB249-Road- s on Public Lands-Thi- s bill is important to help the state begin the process of resolving the decades old problem of who owns the RS2477 rights of way across federal lands.This bill clarifies ownership of rights-of-wa- y for roads in the state, generally providing that the state owns rights-of-wa- y for state roads and that the state and the counties jointly own for county roads. The bill further provides that the counties exert sole jurisdiction and control over county roads. The bill clarifies that public use which constitutes the abandonment of a route to public use, gives rise to a right-of- rights-of-wa- y CUnoosc Ae 20 Bryce EA available for public review Bryce Canyon National Park tential impacts of a visitor trans- has prepared an environmental portation system to manage the assessment to evaluate the po- - flow of visitors through the park. Park visitors currently experideence congestion and difficulties owned as previously way scribed. Finally, the bill provides finding parking spaces at the for futher clarification of acts more popular scenic overlooks, which constitute maintenance duringthe period ofJuly through of RS2477 September. The preferred alternative presented proposes a staging area to park vehicles outside the park on private property and a shuttle service to provide transportation to the visitor center and throughout the main amphitheater area. Limited services would be provided to the southern scenic overlooks. The proposed shuttle system is a nonmandatory option for visitors to ; travel throughout the park. The service would access the most popular trailheads and scenic overlooks. Entrance fees would be discounted for visitors that choose to park in the staging area and enter the park on the shuttle service. rights-of-wa- y. IRA account that fits your needs at State Bank of Southern Utah ' The environmental assessment is available for public review until April 4, 2000 at Bryce Canyon National Park, by calling them 2 at at (435 ) or via 834-532- ail brcareceptionareanps.gov. Farmers urged to move quickly toavoid penalty Utah Farm Bureau Federation officials urge Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contract holders to consult with their tax accountants soon to avoid income tax penalties. A U.S. appellate court ruled recently that farmers must pay a tax if they self-employme-nt receive Federal Conservation Reserve Program payments. The ruling could cost farmers thousands of dollars and force them to amend as many as four years worth of tax returns. I, OM m ! 4 sssheo St Consult your tax advisor to determine the benefits of converting a traditional IRA account to a Roth IRA in 2000 . Ask your tax advisor to determine your eligibility for a 1999 tax break . The CRP program is designed to control erosion and provide habitat for wildlife. Utah farmers have CRP interests on approximately 300,000 acres offarmland. The question about how to treat CRP income stems from a 1996 IRS audit of an Ohio couple who filed 1992 and 1993 tax returns showing $17,000 worth of CRP payments as rental income-incom- e exempt from the nt tax. The IRS audit showed that because the couple also had other land they farmed for income, they owed a 15.3 percent tax on their CRP revenue. The couple appealed to the U.S. Tax Court and won, but that appeal was overthrown. Agricultural tax experts say farmers who may be in a similar situation do not have much time to have previous tax returns amended and refilled. Farmers who need to file amended returns need to do it right away. nt The annual percentage yield is effective as of March 22, 2000 and is subject to change at any time Minimum balance to open is $20.00 . For more information stop by the office nearest you and ask for new accounts. or call Use1 frr 0 tin OF SOUTHERN UTAH |