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Show Rep. Jones presents wilderness resolution Republicans of the House of Represnetatives are more inclined to look at a cut in the property tax than to consider taking the sales tax off food items, S. Garth Jones.Representative from Iron and Kane Counties stated Tuesday. "The house point of view seems to point to a reduction in the property tax of an amount equal to the 28 mills being levied to meet school needs," Jones stated. Of course that would not curtail school maintenance and operation (M & O) budgets. Those funds would be supplied through credit against Income In-come Tax, he suggested. Tax Limitation "Tax limitations are also being strongly considered by the House," Rep. Jones said. He indicated that he hopes that the legislature can take care of the statutory requirements imposing a limit on tax increases tied to the growth in the economy and limited to one percent of assessed valuation on homes. "The only question on this seems to be whether or not it will meet the needs of fast , growing areas. We believe that we are providing enough flexibility to ac- . comodate special needs." Constitutionally such a restruction on tax limitation could be brought before the people for a vote. This week Representative Jones -anticipates that a Resolution, introduced in-troduced by him, will come before the ( house. The Resolution in in opposition to the RARE II and Wilderness designations of vast tracks of land in -' the public domain in Utah. "I am opposed to the lockup and withdrawal of multiple use of these proposed wilderness areas and I take a dim view of the whole process," he said. Prevailing wage In regard to other legistlation that Rep. Jones has introduced he reports that House Bill 12, which repeals the prevailing wage rate on public works jobs, has cleared the house and is now being considered in Senate Committee. Com-mittee. This bill would take away the ability of Labor Unions to establish the prevailing wage rate on public works projects on a state wide basis and would allow contractors to bid on such projects based on the prevailing wage in the geographical area where such construction is undertaken. "This could amount to a considerable con-siderable saving to Cities, Counties, in various local improvement projects. It would also be beneficial to school districts in their building programs," he suggested. |