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Show Page Eight FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 1973 Property Taxes Down $37,130 In Salt Lake County Last Year Ralph McClure Wants Study on Hazard Pay Total property taxes imposed in Salt Lake County last year amount to $92,598,734, according to an analysis prepared by Utah Foundation, the private tax research organization, from data assembled by the Property Tax Division of the Utah State Tax Commission. This represented a decrease of $37,130.00 from the 1971 property tax total. Throughout the state, property taxes rose by $1,328,000 or 0.8 per cent last year despite the fact that the average mill levy in the state declined by 3 mills last year. This seeming contradiction is explained by the fact that the property tax base in Utah grew by nearly 5 percent in 1972. Utahs total assessed valuation passed the $2 billion mark last year. Foundation analysts observe that the average mill levy imposed in Utah has leveled off somewhat during recent years after two decades of substantial increases. Between 1955 and 1965 the average mill rate in Utah rose by 48 per cent and the increase between 1945 and 1955 amounted to 60 per cent. The 1972 levy, however, is only 2 per cent above the 1965 level. Last year there were nearly 400 separate governmental units in Utah that had the power to impose property tax. Included were the state of Utah, 29 coun- - Home Construction Records Broken a different overall tax levy $54,-612,72- breaking home construction during 1971 and 1972 has created an active home improvement market in Utah. Experts in the home improvement loan field indicate that last year was a very good year for home improvements and foresee another good year in 1973. During 1972 Utahs insured savings and loan associations made loans for $9,160,692. At the end of 1972 home improvement loans outstanding amounted to 2,-9- 40 $19,787,308. Grant I. Morris, manager of Prudential Federal Savings and Loan home modernization department, said home owners are remodeling older homes because of the high cost of new home construction. Usually an owner who remodels has a lower interest rate mortgage on his present house than he could obtain if he bought a new house so he takes the home improvement. Other reasons residents want tc improve their homes instead of moving into houses that better suit their needs is because they like the neighborhood they live in and they dont want to leave their friends. Don C. Jepson, manager of Deseret Federal Savings and Loan Associations home improvement needs. Federal law limits insured savings and loan associations to $5,000 maximum on home improvement loans. A bill has been presented to Congress to increase this amount. Many home improvements such as adding on a room cost more than $5,000 today and it is major improvements that are being made instead of frills, he said. Savings and loan associations have plenty of money to loan for improvements and the .interest rates on these loans range from 12 to 13.5 per cent a year depending on the terms of the loan. This is probably the best interest rate available for home improvement loans. red the total), municipal taxes were equal to $10,794,840 (11.6 per cent), taxes imposed by special improvement districts totaled $5,274,240 (5.7 per cent), and 8 bounty taxes amounted to Comm. Ralph McClure In the recent rash of police killings and gunshots being fired at the police and the hazardous $3,-12- 10 $10,-00- 80 1972. The Utah State Depart- ment of Highways will receive this award for the exceptional facility. The award is made as part of the Fifth Annual Federal Highway Administrations competition entitled The Highway and Its Environment. This new rest area offers the traveler a pleasant stopping point to refresh and relax before moving on. There are four shelters with three picnic tables under each. Drinking water, rest rooms and a telephone are available as an information center, manned during the tourist season by Mountain Lands, one of Utahs regional affiliates of the Travel Council. A small stream flows through the rest area adding to the park like landscaping. ap-pliy- ng the blatant credit discrimination against women to continue is tantamount to condoning second class citizenship, he said. The bill is designed to end many of the irritating double belief. standards in credit and it proIn fact the only relevant study vides stiff .penalties for available by David Durant in 1941 showed women were betCurrently, many retailers and ter risks than men. credit crr.d companies refuse to Said Sen. Moss, Credit augsue credit cards in a womans ments the amount of satisfaction name. Women borrowers are often that people can obtain from a given income. To deny credit required to have a Many companies allow husbands for reasons other than ability or to speak for the wife in financial willingness to repay unjustly transactions, but refuse the same condemns some to a lower standard of living. privilege to wives. Creditors in violation of the Only a portion and often none of the salary of a working wife Act would be liable to an indiis considered by creditors. vidual up to $1,000 and in class Divorcees often find they have action suits up to $50,000. non-complian- duty of the firemen also, the Salt Lake County Commission, at the insistence of Chairman Ralph McClure has set up a in 1972. for hazard study commission In the entire state, school tax duty pay allowance. both state and local) accounted Along with the hazard duty for 61.2 per cent of the total pay they also want a study on property tax load last year. The specail death benefits for County property taxes imposed by the Sheriffs officers and fire fighters county governments were equal who put their lives on the line to 20.9 per cent of the total, city for us every day. an dtown taxes amounted to 12 The Commission chairman per cent, taxes levied by special said that the governing body set improvement districts totaled up a six member group to study 4.8 and bounty taxes accounted the question. The move follows for 0.1 per cent of the property the recent death of another potax load in 1972. lice officer killed int he line of Owners of commercial and duty. industrial property paid This committee must be set up cent or 55.5 per of the for the study and some benefit total property taxes charged in must be given if the citizens of Salt Lake County last year. This Salt Lake County want to retain compares with property taxes of qualified men on the police and $32,324,056 (34.9 per cent) of fire fighters force. The recent legislature turned the total on residential property) $6,716,980 or 7.3 per cent on down requests for the special motor vehicles and $1,148,107 on death benefits, stating in effect agricultural property )farm real they would be the responsibility estate, farm buildings, machin- of local government. Commissioner McClure said, ery and livestock. The Foundation analysis has Such an attitude was detrimenand pointed out that for the state tal to every peace officer counand as a whole, nearly 51 per cent fireman in every city of the total property tax burden ty throughout the state. These men put their lives on in 1972 was borne by owners of commercial and industrial the line for us every day. If the property, 35 per cent by owners legislature takes such protection of residential property, 8 per for granted and isnt going to do cent by motor vehicles, 5 percent the job, the county must. Salt Lake City earlier this by agricultural property owners 0 and 1 per cent by owners of year approved a special offipayment to families of other types of property. cers killed in the line of duty. Mr. McClure said that he sees Award for Kimball the payments coming in two alternate forms. Extended coverJunction Rest Area age on existing life insurance The Kimball Junction rest policies or setting up a fund to in Summit County, which the county would conarea, on has been selected by the U. S. tribute. Department of Transportation as Math Contest Open one of the most outstanding rest areas opened in the U.S. during To High Schoolers 1-- no credit rating and cannot get credit because all accounts were in the husbands name during the marriage. A woman is usually not allowed to list child support and or alimony payments when for credit. Moss said there is no good reason for this kind of discimi-natioThe problems stem from the assumption that women are peer credit risks, but there is no documentation to support this n. 6. to $21,913,800 (23.7 percent of Moss Protests Discrimination of Women in World of Credit A bill to stop discrimination against women in the credit world is being in the 93rd Congress by Utah Senator Frank E. Moss. It was' drawn up by New Jersey Senator Harrison Williams. Ours has become a society that runs on credit, and to allow is possible. Total levies ranged from a low of 45.1 mills in one area of Rich unincorporated to a County high of 121.1 mills in a portion of Odgen. Schools continue to receive the largest share from property tax receipts. According to the report, state and local property taxes levied for the support of public schools in the Salt Lake County last year totaled This was equal to 59.0 cent of all property taxes per imposed in the county. Taxes for county purposes amounted $51,-424,6- Record "V. ties, 40 scholo districts, 215 municipalities and 114 special districts, there were 509 separate taxing areas in the state where THE SALT LAKE TIMES High school students who wish to compete in the 17th annual Utah mathematics contest had better hurry According to Wayne Rich, associate professor of mathematics at Utah State University, the 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th grade students can obtain details about the contest from their math teachers. Preliminary exams will be on March 24 at 12 locations in the state. Final exams for scholarships, cash awards, medals and certificates will be held April 7 at Richfield High School and Utah State University. The annual competition is sponsored by the Junior Academy of Science, Arts and Letters and Utah State University Department of Mathematics. co-sign- cc. er. Official Clarifies Phase Three of Economic Stabilization Program Phase III of the Economic Stabilization Program is a variation in the form of wage and price controls and not a removal of them, Mr. Wise, Internal Revenue Service District Director of Utah, said this week. Controls definitely remain. Mandatory price and pay control remain in the health services, food and construction industries, Mr. Wise said. In addition, the voluntary sectors are subject to price and pay standards: For prices, either a 1.5 per cent average price increase or a profit margin constraint, For pay, Phase II standards. The princiDles and policies developed by the Pay Board and the Price Commission during Phase II should be used as the guides in applying the standards. Where it appears voluntary, self administered behavior is inconsistent with program goals, the Cost of Living Council retains authority to set mandatory rules, controling future conduct. COLC also may roll back already instituted price and wage increases. COLC and the IRS, under the COLC direction, are monitoring price and pay performance and by reviewing reports received from firms and employee units conducting fact finding surveys and investigations, and by review of government and trade data. Under Phase III, landlords are expected to exercise restraint in their rental policies and otherwise comply with the spirit of the Economic Stabilization program. Phase II rules serve as guidance for appropriate increases. In addition, Phase III regulations make unlawful renegotiation provisions which depend for their operation upon the modification or termination of the Economic Stabilization program, retroactive increases and prospective increases inconsistent with an IRS or Price Commission decision and order. Phase III is a self administered program, in comparison with Phase II which required government approval of individual price and pay actions. Secretary of Treasury George Shultz has compared Phase II and III to auto drivers on the road. Under Phase II, he said, People were driving their cars according to a specified speed, and before you could change the speed of your car, you had to go to Washington to get permission. In Phase III, we say the rules are the same, the traffic laws are the same, and you sort of adjust to the conditions as you see them on a self adjusting basis, but if you speed, youre going to get picked up, and if youre a drunken driver, you're going to lose your license. We can do that and we will do that. Two Interns Named By Rep. Wayne Owens '(Continued from page 1) degree in communications at the University of Utah. Following his internship Mr. Chambless is to begin his work on a doctorate in history. Mr. Blackstock is the son of Mrs. Marjorie Blackstock, 2285 South 19th East, Salt Lake City. He is a behavorial science major at Westminster College. He was junior class president and member of the student court at the Salt Lake City College. He plans to continue his education in law school following his internship. Rep. Owens stated that We're trying to develop an internship program for all colleges in my district as well as providing an opportunity for all students who live in the Congresional District but who are attending college outside the district an opportunity to compete for an internship. Interns will participate in every phase of the Congressional Process but will focus their attention on constituent problems and legislative analysis. Make someone happy today. Mind your own business. t |