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Show Monday, Sept. 11,20061 Homeowners pay most transportation taxes SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Salt Lake County residents would prefer a sales tax increase over higher property taxes to pay for transit projects, according to a new study, although neither option is likely to be warmly received. The Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce commissioned the Utah Foundation study, which concluded that people would likely choose a sales tax increase over a property tax hike because the higher sales tax would be incremental and easier to pay. "It's been sort of common wisdom that there is less concern about sales tax," said foundation director Steve Kroes, author of the study. According to the study, Salt Lake County businesses would pay 43 percent of a proposed $890 million bond to pay for early completion of four TRAX lines. The property-tax backed bond issue is on the county's November ballot. If the Legislature instead comes up with a sales-tax increase, businesses would contribute about 31 percent of the revenue, the study found. That would still leave homeowners shouldering the burden of the funding, but the Chamber of Commerce feels it is preferable to increasing property taxes. "Property tax is more hated," chamber spokeswoman Natalie Gochnour said. The property tax measure would be limited to paying off a bond to speed construction of four TRAX lines in Salt Lake County. But a quarter-cent sales tax increase in the county would raise more money, perhaps indefinitely. The Chamber has estimated that if Salt Lake, Davis, Weber and Utah counties all levied the quarter-cent sales tax, about $2.1 billion would be available for transit and transportation projects. Issuing a statewide tax increase could also provide money for projects outside the Wasatch Front. The Legislature has the power to impose a sales tax increase without a ballot measure. "However, we need to know from the public if this is a priority of theirs," said Rep. Wayne Harper, R-West Jordan, co-chairman of the House Revenue and Taxation Committee. Missing Air Force major is rescued Citizens unhappy withBriefs federal growth plan 'Campus & Community HURRICANE, Utah (AP) - A citizens' group wants more study before a proposed federal plan on growth and conservation in Washington County can take effect. "We have to ask ourselves some hard questions. How do we grow smarter and not just bigger?" said Lin Alder, director of Citizens for Dixie's Future. "This bill should be postponed until we can improve the process and have real community-wide discussions." The proposed legislation is scheduled to come before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health on Thursday. Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, and Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, are co-sponsors of the bill, which includes provisions to establish wilderness areas, promote conservation goals and protect endangered species. But it would also allow up to 25,000 acres of public land to be sold to private developers. "This bill is an environmental disaster," said Scott Groene, director of the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance in Salt Lake City. "It's complex legislation that raises a significant number of issues for many people." Groene's group, the Sierra Club, and the Wilderness Society oppose the bill, largely because of the sale of public land. The Bureau of Land Management already has designated 4,300 acres it wants to sell. > T O P 25 From page 7 no single category to be more important than any other. Second, the final rankings needed to reflect excellence across the full breadth of our measures, rather than reward an exceptionally high focus on, say, research." When President Albrecht was contacted for an interview, his office released this statement: "The Washington Monthly ranking system uses the kind of measures that are consistent with the things we value at Utah State University. From our perspective, these are exactly the right kinds of met- rics. We are pleased to be recognized as one of the country's premier universities using these important measures," Coward said the areas by which Washington Monthly determines the best universities are the same kind of traits and characteristics USU values and emulates. He said he is very pleased with the university's success. "This didn't give us insight to who we are, but confirms that others see us as we see ourselves," Coward said. -a,riek@cc. usu.edu • CREDIT CARDS From page 7 planning how they would repay these debts", said Kay Hansen, Director of ping for souvenirs at a BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan Housing and Financial Counseling at department store before a (AP)-A U.S. Air Force the Family Life Center. scheduled departure from major who went missing Many students expect to be able the country on Friday. for three days arrived at a to pay off their debt after college, but U.S. military hospital in A massive search involvHansen said some find it hard to do. Germany on Sunday, and a ing Kyrgyz and U.S. investi"Another problem that students senior Kyrgyz police offigators came up empty until have with excessive credit debt is they cial said that her departure late Friday, when police often leave school with really high "strongly complicates" the said Metzger knocked on expectations, but find they have to start probe into her disappearthe door of a house in Kant, at the bottom like everyone else," she ance. about 22 miles from the said. capital, and said she had Maj. Jill Metzger vanInterest rates make it even more ished Tuesday in Bishkek, important to manage money well while the capital of this former in school. • A I R FORCE Soviet republic, while shop"Sometimes people have no option see page 4 other than taking out student loans, but they often don't manage well," Hansen said. Johnson said some things to look • GARDENER'S MARKET for when shopping for a credit card are From page 7 no annual fee and a low interest rate. With an annual fee, even if a student The vendor application fee is $10 and vendors must pay never uses a card it must be paid for; an additional $5 per week. The application fee is waived for if there is no fee, the student only pays children, however, and the weekly fee for them is reduced to what he or she charges. $1. Johnson suggests an interest The look of the market will continue to change as USU rate lower than 14 percent and said to landscape architecture students have been commissioned pay the balance in full each month. to create a hypothetical redesign of the market. Landscape Jonathan Childress, a phone counselor architect major Kevin Jensen said he is working with other for Money Management International, USU students to create a "vision of the future" for the mara debt counseling company, said to go ket. The group will present two designs, one of Pioneer for an interest rate no more than 12 Park, and one of city block near the county courthouse, to percent. the market committee for review. "Be mindful of interest rates," he The market operates each Saturday morning from 9 a.m. said. "Once you sign, you're saying yes to 1 p.m. and will close this year on Oct. 14. It will also be to everything. Read the fine print. If closed on Sept. 23 for the Top of Utah Marathon. you pay late the company can raise the -mof(5>cc.usu.edu interest rate." "At the Center, financial counselors recommend that all consumers read the fine print on all credit card and student loan applications before they sign the contract," Hansen said in an email. "These applications explain that when you make only the minimum payment, are late on a payment, or miss a payment, that the APR (Annual Percentage Rate) charged on your debt will increase to an amount that is much higher that the low introductory interest rate that you thought you signed on for. Prior to taking on consumer debt, it is also recommended that consumers use the online debt repayment calculator called PowerPay. This tool will enable them to do advance calculations of credit card costs - before taking on excessive debt." PowerPay can be found at powerpay. org/login.php. Advice listed on StudentMarket. com includes: -Pay on time. -Try to pay your balance in full each month. If you can't, pay more than the minimum monthly payment. -Review your credit reports periodically. -Develop a steady work record. -Keep your credit card records in a separate file. -Immediately notify your credit card company of an address change, -Review your statements carefully and immediately inform your credit card company, in writing, if you notice an error on a billing statement. -ella@cc.usu.edu Contact USU Police at 797-1939 for non-emergencies. Anonymous reporting line: 797-5000 EMERGENCY NUMBER: 911 Blotter \Police News from the Campus & Community Friday, Sept. 1, 2006 • A USU Bus Driver reported some damage to a glass destination sign window on the top of his bus. This window was struck by a low tree branch while the bus was turning around at the dairy on 1500 North and 800 East. There were no injuries or any other damage to the bus. investigation, it was discovered that two passengers also had marijuana on their persons. Several arrests were made. Saturday, Sept. 2, 2006 • USU Police responded to Mountain View Tower on a noise complaint. USU Police talked with the individuals about the noise level and no further action was taken. • USU Police responded to the USU trailer court in response to a suspicious incident. The caller believed that an individual was in her bedroom, but no one was located inside. • USU Police responded to the laundry room area of Mountain View Tower on a laundry theft report. • A student called and reported that some • one had stolen his wallet and has made an unauthorized charge using his credit card. USU Police are investigating. • USU Police responded to Morgan Hall for a medical assist. A student was having some abdominal pain and was transported to Logan Regional Hospital. • USU Police responded to the USU Historical Farm on an intrusion alarm at the Heritage Center. A door was found to be improperly secured. The Officer searched the building and found no one inside nor any noticeable evidence of theft. The alarm was reset and the doors were properly secured. Sunday, Sept. 3, 2006 • USU police responded to a fire alarm in the Taggart Student Center building. The alarm was activated by smoke that accumulated above the Mongolian stir fry. It was found that an employee forgot to turn on the fan above the stir fry, which activated the alarm. The alarm was silenced. Wednesday, Sept. 6 , 2 0 0 6 • USU Police spoke with four individuals riding long boards inside the parking terrace. The individuals were warned and released. Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2006 • During a traffic stop for Improper Display and No Rear Plate Illumination, USU Police discovered that the driver and all passengers had consumed Marijuana. Upon further remove the bat. • USU Police responded to a report of a bat hanging on the Center for Persons with Disabilities. Animal control was called to • USU Police assisted Jackson, Wyoming Police by attempting to locate a student attending classes at USU. It was discovered that the student has dropped his classes and left the area. • USU Police responded to the HPER building for a report of a student feeling weak. The student is hyperglycemic and was having a reaction after working out. Some food was given and the student drove home with some friends. • USU Police received a report of a student being harassed by another student. This investigation is continuing. Compiled byArie Kirk. All police blotters can befound at wxvw.utah statesman.com : Utah State Board of Regents meeting The State Board of Regents will be meeting Sept. 15 at the Gateway in Salt Lake City from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Regents' Board Room. The Board of Regents will be discussing capital development project requests and preparing to present them to the Building Board, the Legislature and the Governor. Richard Kendell, the Commissioner of Higher Education, will present recommendations regarding the College of Eastern Utah and Southeast Applied Technology College collaboration study. The recently formed Strategic Planning and Communications Committee will hold its first meeting. They will be discussing new messaging strategy and focus for the Utah System of Higher Education and the State Board of Regents. Bioneers Conference registration begins Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson and renowned sustainability author Daniel Kemmis are keynote speakers for the third annual Utah Bioneers Conference Oct. 2022, at Utah State University. Registration is under way for the gathering, which features live satellite broadcasts of national conference sessions along with a variety of on-site workshops, panel discussions and exhibits. Anderson speaks Friday, Oct. 20, at 7 p.m. at the Logan Tabernacle in downtown Logan. His talk, "Effectively Combating Climate Change Together," is free and open to the public. The gathering includes a "Celebration of the Earth at Sunrise" on Sunday, Oct. 22, at 8 a.m. at the outdoor amphitheater on the southwest corner of Old Main Hill. It is also free and open to all. Walk-up registration for the conference is available, but advance registration is recommended. Discounts are available for students r and for those who register by Sept. 30. Several registration packages are offered, including three-day, twoday and one-day registration, with or without meals, ranging from $40 to $75. Student registration for the threeday conference is $20 and includes continental breakfast each day, Friday night's reception and breaks. Student registration does not include meals, which students can register for at $5 per day. A limited number of student scholarships are available. Professional and university credit is also available. For further information and registration, visit extension. usu.edu/bioneers. Local nature center receives a $5,000 grant to help kids The Stokes Nature Center has received a grant from the Maki Foundation in the amount of $5,000. The Maki Foundation, headquartered in Aspen, Colorado, is concerned with environmental protection in the western United States. The Foundation awards grants to organizations and projects where modest support can make a significant contribution. This money will be used to help cover a portion of the cost of SNC School Programs. In 2005, nearly 6,000 students of all ages participated in SNC programs including 3,500 students grades K-5 plus their teachers and chaperones. Jen Levy, Executive Director of SNC, is quoted as saying "we are grateful for this generous contribution and appreciate the notice by surrounding states of the work we do". Contributions help SNC to carry out its mission, to provide opportunities for students of all ages to explore, learn about, and develop appreciation and stewardship for our natural world. The Stokes Nature Center located in Logan Canyon, east of Logan, Utah, on HWY 89, is open Tuesday - Friday and the 2nd Saturday of the month from 1 0 - 4 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, call 435-755-3239 or visit www.logannature.org. ^•Compiled from staff and media reports |