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Show County Holds the Line on Taxes Garfield County has held the line very well as to tax raises iu spite of spirallng cost of living and salary increases in pri vate and public fields ol endeavor. Recently published figures showing a tax increase of 103 per cent in the county were of taxes collected, not of increase In the taxation rate. The upsurge is in great part accounted for by the establishment of a heavily producing oil field with Its masses of valuable equipment, pipelines, etc. Another broadening of the tax base has been through a larga increase of sub-division development and building Added to this has been a great increase of taxable power trnnsmlulon facilities. The mill levy has been ad vanced by oue mill only over a period of eight years for the county. Several communities have increased their mill levy, in most instances to better their water supply. Additions of special taxing district levies have been the only other tax increases except for Panguitch City where a 50 per cent Increase in the water tax has been effected The recent increases In salaries for the county officials still do not bring the salaries received up to the level due for the work performed. A recent study by Utah Taxpayers Association shows state employees (non-school) receiving an average yearly wage of 16,744 - with employees having any responsibility (comparable to any of our responsible coi" ty officers) getting salaries in the $8,000 to $12,u00 range. |