OCR Text |
Show You and Your Legislature By Sam Taylor The two knottiest problems facing Utah's Legislature this session were being resolved this week. With only a week of activity acti-vity remaining, the state's course on spending and taxation Is now beginning to crystallze. The Joint legislative appropriations appropri-ations committee finally brought Its recommendations for spending spend-ing during the biennium out for discussion. The general appropriations appropri-ations bill calls for the spending of $86.6 million. This figure is $10 million less than asked for by Governor George Clyde at the beginning be-ginning of the session, but still more than anticipated revenue under the present tax laws. For that reason, a number of new tax or tax Increase bills are now before the two houses. Broken down, the appropriations bill lists spending as follows: 1. $64 million for departments and institutions. 2. $13.5 million for state building. build-ing. 3. $1 million for Btate park sites. 4. $300,000 for planning state building. 5. $002,000 for miscellaneous bills requiring appropriations. 6. $6.2 million for emergency school building. The appropriation bill was dls. appointing to many who had hoped for large appropriations this session to "catch up" on needed building, but was given a tentative nod of approval from Gov. Clyde, who has urged caution cau-tion and economy all during the session. The Governor said the bill was "in the vicinity of being realistic," but expressed his opinion that appropriations for State Parks Commission and for State building were not enough. There are still eight tax Increase In-crease measures before the houses, hous-es, however, and If approved, could mean the raising of over $20 million during the biennium. However, as these bills wind their ways through legislative channels they are finding the sledding tough. Motels and Hotels: Late last week the House of Representatives had not yet gotten got-ten around to discussion on a Senate-passed bill to extend the state sales tax to materials-connected services (garages, motels, hotels, cleaning and laundry, etc.). The bill, which would bring an estimated $700,000 during dur-ing the next two years, was recommended rec-ommended at the beginning of the session by Gov. Clyde. Not Completely Forgotten! The early session Senate proposal pro-posal to bond the state for $37 million to finance state building and stat parks acquisition and development was backed up by the taxation bill to pay for the obligation. That bill, SB 230, would Increase the sales tax one-half one-half per cent for six years to amortize the issue. The measure has been debated In the Senate, but final action will undoubtedly undoubted-ly await other action to see If the revenue is needed. However, another bill, HB 222, would simply Increase the sales tax one-half per cent without earmarking ear-marking the funds. This bill had not yet been considered by the House when this was written. Either of the sales tax bills would bring In an estimated revenue of $12 million during the biennium virtually enough to end worries as to where reeded revenue would come from. A number of other bills to raise taxes in certain areas are also facing a tough week. Many of them are sure to die quick deaths In sifting committees, the others are in for active debate when introduced on the floor. How Much for Schools? The State Senate did not concur con-cur with the House proposal to increase the state school guarantee guaran-tee to $5,300. The Senate version of the bill calls for an Increase from the present $4,800 per classroom class-room unit to $5,100. School officials offi-cials had asked for $5,700 at the beginning of the session, but Gov. Clyde's budget message called for only an Increase of three or found hundred per unit. Each $100 increase In classroom unit distribution means about $1 million each year In spending throughout the state. Stat Fund Loss: The Senate originated off-highway off-highway gasoline tax refund foi farmers has passed the House and Is awaiting action by the Governor. The Bureau of Economic Econom-ic Research and Development at the University of Utah estimates a loss of $1.8 million during the next two years because of this bill. The young lion tamer was being be-ing Interviewed on television. "I understand your father alsc was a lion tamer," said the announcer. an-nouncer. "Yes Indeed he was," 6ald the young man. And do you actually put youi head In the lion's mouth?" Inquired In-quired the announcer. "Only once," said the younj man, "to look for Dad." |