Show Arguments For Rebuttal to Agriculture has long town recognized as lah's most basic in this slate is highlv industry In fact the lifestvle p dependent upon a strong healths agric ultural economy Profi table conditions for our farmers and rancheisnot onl mean that store shelves will (otitinue to he lull oflering lah's grocery food at some of the consumers a wide vanety of wholesome lowest prices found anywhere in the world hut that a large number of businesses and jobs related to our agricultural will also be preserved It is therefore m everyone's best indust r interest to ensure favorable oiiditmiis for agric ulture The tah Legislature recognizes that agriculture and other businesses an1 struggling financially but the real issue is equity Our constitution intended for tax burdens to be distributed equitably but over time an inequity has developed tah taxpaver regarding personal property While the average of his net income in pays about 3 properly taxes and the average business pays about V our I tah farmer now pays net his income 19 taxes in each year of Hearty property The Legislature overwhelminglv passed Proposition 2 because your lawmakers recognized the need to amend the constitution to allow for a more equitable distribution of the property tax burden Your "yes'' rote will ensure that I’tah agriculture will continue to produce the highest quality food and fiber found anywhere in the world at the lowest possible cost and protect the viability of many tah businesses whose future depends on our fanners and rant hers Cary (I Peterson Inti Hast ioti North Senator Nephi believe it is in the best interest of every “FOR” Proposition 2 for the following reasons We tah Mb48 tahn tovote o 2 We have already given farmers breaks on property taxes To be fair to fanners the Gieen licit exemption on fanns lowered the property tax on farmland Also there are no property taxes on irrigation systems no taxes on livestock and no sales tax on larm equipment It will cost I tahns more for food if I'tah farmers and ranchers are forced out of business If the average family of four pays 1100 per week for food a rise in the cost of food means each family would have to pay $14 more per year for food The true ks that deliver I tah produced beef flour to California bring hac k lettuie straw cheese and berries oranges and vegetables If that food had to be trucked in from California without tah pnxiucts hack hauled to California food would cost more than it now does i I t Proposition 2 would apply to all "farmers" regardless of need If it passes it will beeomejust cine more tax benefit that may be abused by peoplewhotakeunfairadvantageof the tax benefits available to farmers Other citizens uho don 't hare the income to use these tax dodges will hare to bear more taxes Proposition 2 will be difficult to administer No one knows what it will cost the state since no one knows what will be considered "farm equipment "Administering it will be expensive Proposition 2 will encourage abuse and make property taxes less fair ote “AGAIN ST" Proposition 2! Senator It is a matter of equity The average worker in I tah pays just over 3 of his interne in property tax The average business pays an average of 3 to ok of its income in property tax The average farmer and randier in I tah during the last ten years paid 27 of his income in property tax and during the last two years paid 43 of his net farm income in property tax Property tax on tah farms and randies has increased 123 smte 137o yet their income has decreased 2 Arguments in I at or of proposition The supporiers of Ptnpnsitmii 2 claim the average I'tah farmer pays 43'k of his net income in proper) taxes This claim is misleading' It implies that Proposition would reduce property taxes on land Fanners pav the minority oftheirpropertv taxes on land In fact Proposition 2 will not affect taxeson land only property taxes on laim farm equipment are a very small pail on Taxes equipment of a farmer's property taxes Only two tenths of one peri cut of gross income is needed to pay personal property taxes (on equipment and mac hinery by farmers in tah Passing Proposition 2 will hardly affect the arerage farmer's orerall properly tax burden 347 Tooele House Chairman Karl G Swan pland Inve I tab S4074 Representative Franklin W Knowlton and Taxat ion Interim Committee Revenue Box 42h Lavton tah S4041 i I I t 3 The total cost of this proposition is under $ I per person That's less than an average hamburger' 4 ves vole will tell Itah's farmers and ranchers that we believe in equity in taxes and will help hold the price of final down for all Itahns Representahe South 32m ioung 2'kim o Page II Evan L Olsen West Route erd tah S4 Mu |