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Show SEPTEMBER 28,2006 THE GARFIELD COUNTY INSIDER GARFIELD SCHOOL BOARD REJECTS PROPOSED TAX INCREASE CALENDAR EVENTS | THURSDAY, S E P T E M B E R 2 8 • Garfietd Memorial Groundbreaking •Bryce Valley ATV Rally Page 2 The Garfield County School Board has rejected the school administration's proposed tax increase of 9.18%. The BVHS Volleyball @ Valley action was taken September 14lh at the •BVHS Baseball ©Valley Truth in Taxation Hearing held in the • AA Mtg, New Awareness Bryce Valley High School auditorium in Panguitch Lib - 7pm Topic. • Gospel Meetings @ 7:30 pm Panguitch The School Board acted to.accept Library the Utah State Certified Tax Rate for •PHS Volleyball vs. MiUord 2006. This rate, which is actually lower I • PHS Baseball vs. Green River than the rate set in 2005, is established FRIDAY, S E P T E M B E R 2 9 ALL ABOARD! by The Utah State Tax Commission. • Sih/erado Boys Ranch Open House Our Brace Caboose is now makThe tax rate was set at .007819 in 2005 •Bryce Valley ATV Rally ing life easier for our patients in and will be .007491 in 2006. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 outlying communities: Beaver, Individual tax payers may see a small • Sflverado Boys Ranch Open House Bicknell, Circleville, Delta, reduction in the tax bill unless their prop•Bryce Valley ATV Rally Ephraim, Fillmore, Gunnison, erty was reassessed during the last | SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1 Manti, Milford, Junction, Monroe twelve months. •Bryce Valley ATV Rally and Salina. On days we're in the Garfield School District Business MONDAY, O C T O B E R 2 mobile office, our office phone is Manager, Justin Baugh, reported that the • Region H.S. Baseball Quarter Finals forwarded to us, so we can still be District's revenues are not keeping pace | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 3 reached. with expenses. He quoted a recent »PHS Volleyball vs. S. Sevier study compiled by the U.S. Census Bu1-888-BRACEME WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4 reau, "Utah's pupil transportation fund•EHS Volleyball ©Wayne 150 E 200 N« Richfield, UT ing is getting close to the crisis stage. State funding has dropped from 85% ten years ago to 58%. Utah's school disBLM RICHFIELD OFFICE DESIGNATES tricts are having to squeeze funding out MOTORIZED ROUTES AT FACTORY BUTTE of their budgets from wherever they can, To protect endangered species in the Factory Butte area of Wayne including funds that could be going into County, the Bureau of Land Management's Richfield Field Office announced today that it is limiting some motorized travel to designated routes while keeping a popular off-highway recreational area open to cross-country travel. BLM officials in Richfield, who formally announced the action in a notice published in today's Federal Register, said motorized users will have access to more than 220 miles of designated routes at Factory Butte that provide scenic loops and challenges for all skill levels. The popular offhighway vehicle (OHV) recreational area called Swing Arm City will remain open to cross-country travel. The travel designations announced today will not only protect two endangered species of cacti from recreational impacts, but will also ensure that Factor)' Butte can remain open to OHV users in the years to come, the Richfield Field Office said" BLM-officials noted that those riding off-highway vehicles in Factory Butte will still be able to enjoy diverse activities over a wide area, from challenging terrain to easy-riding scenic loops to the 2,600-acrc "open play area" at Swing Arm City. OHV riders will be able to access points throughout the 148,500-acre Factory Butte area on the extensive network of designated routes that run from the Emery County line in the north to the Garfield County line to the south, and from Capitol Reef National Park on the west to Skyline Rim on the east. Other motorized opportunities exist at Factory Butte for everything from passenger car touring to single-track motorcyling. The BLM is emphasizing public education and awareness in connection with the newly designated route system, which will be identified during an on-the-ground implementation process with appropriate signs and fencing. The new travel restrictions, which take effect immediately, do not affect dispersed camping, so long as the camping does not create impacts on areas with endangered cacti. Popular camping areas like Coal Mine Wash are still available for camping; OHV users, however, will not be allowed to ride their vehicles in the surrounding hills. In recognition of Factory Bulte's recreational values, the BLM has plans in place to upgrade amenities in the area to enhance visitors' experiences. The amenities include interpretive kiosks displaying maps of open areas, designated routes, observation points, and staging areas. The BLM welcomes suggestions for other improvements to enhance the recreational experience at Factory Butte. for more information, please call the public affairs number of the Richfield Field Office at (435 J 896-1070;. lhvHUkMilt.lhiuBtl.WKt education, in order to pay the transportation costs." Mr. Baugh gave a powerpoint presentation at the hearing which showed that the District is paying an average increase from last year to this year in supplies and materials of 28%. Price increases for Food Service have risen and average of 27%. Insurance costs jumped 13.8% from last year to this. Utilities haverisensignificantly in each of the past two years and are expected to rise again this year. Garfield School District has added additional bus routes and increased fuel costs have put the District into a financial bind. The District also has nine school buildings to maintain. The newest of these is now eight years old. "The proposed 9.18% tax increase would have helped us maintain current programs," stated Justin Baugh. "Several of our buses have high mileage and will need to be replaced in the near future." All five of Garfield County School Board members were present for the vote. The action to reject the tax increase and accept the certified county tax rate was unanimous. |