OCR Text |
Show The Utah Enterprise Review , January 19, 1977 Page 2b Chamber Breakfast Airs Proposed Tax Gripes Tax Incentives Lure Land Owners New tax incentives for restoring old buildings seem to be making an impact on Salt Lake businesspeople. As examples, the newly-opene- d Royal Palace rest- aurant, the Judge Building, Boston Building and the Miles Hotel are commercial buildings whose owmers have applied for a place on the state historical register. We have received a number of requests from the public, asking for grants and information about tax incentives. During the past two months, since the new Tax Reform Law went into effect, we have received at least ten different overtures, estimated Allen Roberts of the Utah Historical Society, and ten others have made inquiries." tee approved restoration grants for four Salt Lake City commercial buildings: The Herald Building (Lambs Grill), $3,000; the Salt Lake Stock and Mining Exchange, $6,000; The Fritsch Block (Guthrie Cycle), $2,000 and the Salt Lake High School on Pierpont (a restaurant supply store and a publishing company), $3,000. In addition, the committee named lower 25th Street in Ogden a historic district, making owners of buildings in the area eligible for grants and tax incentives, as well as economically discourageing demolition of the old structures. In Salt Lake City, the Redevelopment Agency has contracted with Historical Society to survey all commercial buildings in the Rep. David Irvine, and Sen. Warren Pugh heard extensive comments from about 60 businesspeople attending the first legislative breakfast" sponsored by the Salt Lake Area Chamber of Commerce. Discussing House Bill 18, to decriminalize public intoxication, Irvine told the group the $i.7 million alcoholism treatment program proposed in the bill would be funded by a 10 cent - to - 20 cent increase in beer tax. Members of the audience told Irvine they thought the tax discriminated against other alcoholic beverage industries. One representative of the beer industry told Irvine the proposed tax increase would raise more than five cents. the price of a k Its illogical for beer drinkers to subsidize this program," one man said. Weve never claimed that anything we do is logical," Irvine countered. six-pac- Get What You Pay For In another matter, Warren Pugh asked the audience whether they preferred an ad valorem tax on gasoline, or the traditional kind of highway tax. An ad valorem tax of about 20 percent w ould help the Department of Transportation keep pace with inflation over the years, he explained. But the traditional kind of tax would have to be reviewed and probably each year. He added last years legislature did not have enough guts" to pass a gas tax increase, even though legislators knew the highway department would be operating at a deficit without the hike in 1977. He said when the highway department is operating at a deficit it is maintaining highways at a standard below that preferred by citizens. He estimated the department is presently operating at a $16 million deficit. If you want highways, you have to pay for them," he told the group. He said the cost of maintaining Utah highways has quadrupled in the last four years, adding that inflation is directly tied to increased costs of oil imposed by oil importing countries. 13-blo- ck Our staff in the past has researched buildings and recommended historical status based only on our We research, he added. didnt receive many requests from the public." (Placement of a building on the state or national historical register allows the owner to apply for grants and qualify for new tax benefits.) Last week members of the Utah Historic and Cultural Sites Review Commit area serviced by tax increment downtown funds. The survey, to cost the city $10,000, will result in maps that document the findings of the historians, rating each building according to its architectural or historical merit, and providing anecdotal histories of The important structures. purpose of the study is to encourage development of important properties downtown, Roberts said. Washington Report Around the World Murdock Travels you! Air Committee System Needs Overhaul Reseaations & Tickets Steamship Bookings & Tickets Train Reservations & Tickets Bus Tickets 'Accident & Baggage Insurance 'Travelers Checks 'Group Tours 'Hotel Reservations 'Car Purchase for European Delivery 'Independent Tours 'Car Rentals 'Passport & Visa Assistance Expert Counsel on any and all phases of travel with one convenient stop at no extra cost by Senator Jake Gam Reorganization of the Senate committee system has been the first substantial order of business for the 95th Congress. It is long overdue. The committee system has not been restructured for thirty years. During that time the legislative branch of government has expanded its jurisdiction farther than ever before. This expansion has left the committee system outmoded. In many ways it is inefficient it overlaps, duplicates and offers only cumbersome, methods to accomplish relatively simple goals. Seantors are spread too thin. Most are scheduled for two to five full committee and subcommittee hearings each morning which are frequently interrupted by trips to the floor to vote. Revamping of committees would provide a practical, efficient and approach for committee hearings. Senate Resolution 4, the current proposal to change the committee system, provides for consolidating committee jurisdiction, limiting the number of committees and subcommittees to which a Senator can belong, restricting chairmanships and establishing a scheduling service so committee meetings and roll call votes would not conflict. Hearings on the resolution, which have been conducted during the first weeks of this Congress, have emphasized that, although everyone agrees reform is absolutely necessary, no one seems willing to accept change in his own fiefdom. The majority cries to reorganize every committee but mine" and the revamp everything, except the subcommittees which pertain to my special interest groups." Unfortunately, this is the very reason we have gone thirty years without reorganization and it is the reason reformation time-consumi- time-effecti- Salt Lake Provo 521-78S- 0 377-970- 0 MURDOCK TRAVEL ng ve is so difficult. As we approach the beginning of a new legislative session, the mood is right for reform. Hopefully, the Senate will have enough courage to address the issue broadmindedly, so we can establish and maintain a meaningful committee structure. Presenting six of the world s most elegant cuisines! French, Italian, Greek, Spanish, American and Persian. 249 South 4th East Reservations: Your Host: Ali A. Manteehi 359-500- 0 |