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Show I'ltOI'OSIlI) AMKXO.MI2XT TO THE ONSTITl TIOV. .SKXATE JOIST liHSIU.l'riO.V XUIUEll FIGHT. Proposing an amendment to Article l:' of the Constitution of the State of Utah, relating to revenue and taxation. taxa-tion. He it resolved by the Legislature ot the Stale of Utah, two-thirds of all members elected to each of the two houses concurring therein: Section 1. It is proposed to amend Article 13 of tile Constitution of the Stale of Utah, so that the same will read as follows: 1. The power of taxation shall never he surrendered, suspended, or contracted contract-ed away. All taxes shall be uniform upon the same class of property within with-in the territorial limits of the authority authori-ty levyiiiK the tax, and shall be levied and collected for public purposes only. 2. The Legislature shall provide by law for an annual ax sufficient, with other sources of revenue, to defray tile estimated ordinary expenses of the Slate for each tiseal year. Fur the purpose pur-pose of paying: the State debt, if any there be. the Legislature shall provide for levying a tax annually, sufficient to pay the annual interest and principal of such debt, within twenty years from me nnai passage ui uie ui w oenunb the debt. 3. There shall be exempt from taxation taxa-tion property ot the United States, ot the State, counties, cities, towns, school districts, municipal corporations and public libraries, lots with the buildings thereon used exclusively for either re- . Unions worship or charitable purposes, and places of burial not held or used for private tor corporate benefit. Ditches, canals, reservoirs, pipes and flumes owned and used by Individuals or corporations for irrigating lands owned by such individuals or corporations, corpora-tions, or the individual members thereof, there-of, shall not he separately taxed so long: as they shall lie owned and used exclusively for such purpose: provided, that mortgages upon real and personal property shall be exempt from taxation, and that the taxes of the indigent poor may be remitted or abated at such time and in such manner as may be provided hv law. -1. The Legislature shall not impost taxes for the purpose of any county, city, town or otlier municipal corpora tion. but, reay, by law, vest in the corporate cor-porate authorities and collect taxes foi all purposes of such corporation. f. The surface ground of all mines and mining claims, both placer and rock in place, containing- or bearing gold, silver, sil-ver, copper, lead, iron or otlier valu able metals, after purchase therein trony the United States, shall be taxed at a value not greater than the price paid the United States therefor, unless the surface ground, or some part thereof, there-of, of such mines or claim, is used foi other than mining purposes, and has a separate and independent value for such other purposes: in which case said surface sur-face ground, or any part thereof, so used tor other -than mining purposes, shall be taxed other than mining purposes pur-poses as provided by law; and all machinery ma-chinery used in mining, and all prop erty and surface improvements upon or appurtenant to mines and mining claims, which have a value separate and independent of such mines or mining min-ing claims, shall be taxed as provided by law. All lands containing coal, granite, stone, marble, onyx, g'as, oil, hvdro-carbons, gypsum, or other valu-aide valu-aide mineral deposits, other than those enumerated above in this section, after purchase thereof from the United States and all property and surface improvements improve-ments upon or appurtenant to such lands which have a value separate and independent of all such lands shall he taxed as provided by law. In addition to the assessment of the surface grounds, improvements and macnlnery of mines and mining claims, all mines and mining claims producing net proceeds pro-ceeds shall be taxed at a, value not to exceed three times such net proceeds. 6. An accurate statement of the receipts re-ceipts and expenditures of the public moneys shall be published annually in such manner as the Legislature may provide. 7. The rate of taxation on property for State purposes shall never exceed eight mills on each dollar of valuation to be apportioned as follows. Not to exceed four and one-half mills on each dollar of valuation for general State purposes: not to exceed three mills on each dollar of valuation for district, school purposes: not to exceed one-half mill on each dollar of valuation for high school purposes; that part of the State tax appportioned to high school purposes shall constitute a fund to be called the "high school fund" and shall he apportioned to the cities and school districts maintaining high schools in the manner the Legislature may provide. pro-vide. And whenever the taxable property prop-erty within the State shall amount to Four Hundred Million Dollars, the rate shall not exceed Ave mills on each dollar dol-lar of valuation: unless a proposition to increase such rate, specifying the late proposed and the time during which the same shml be levied, be first submitted to a vote of such of the qualified electors of the State as, In the vein- next preceding such election, shall 'have paid a property tax assessed to them within the State, and the majority majori-ty of those voting thereon shall vote in favor thereof, in such manner as may he provided by law. S. The making of profit out of public pub-lic moneys, using the same for any purpose not authorized by law, by any public oflicer, shall he deemed a felony, and shall be punished as provided bylaw, by-law, but part of such punishment shall he dis'iualifieation to hold public office. f. Xo appropriation shall be made, or any expenditure authorized by the Legislature, whereby the expenditures of the State, during any fiscal year, shall exceed the total tax then provided for by law, and applicable for such appropriation ap-propriation or expenditure, unless the Legislature making sm-h appropriation shall provide for levying a sufficient tax. not exceeding die rate allowed in Section G of this article, to pay such appropriation or expenditure within such fiscal year. This provision shall not appiy to appropriations or expenditures expendi-tures to suppress insurrections, defend the State, or assist in defending the United Slates in time of war. 10. Nothing in this constitution shall be construed to prevent the Legislature from providing a stamp tax, or a tax based on income, occupation, licenses or franchises. Sec. 2. The Secretary of State Is hereby ordered to give this proposition proposi-tion to be published in at least one newspaper in every county in the State where a newspaper is printed and published for two months preceding the next general election. Sec. 3. This proposition shall be submitted to the electors of this State at tile next general election for their approval or disapproval. All official ballots used at such election shall have printed or written thereon the words. I "For the amendment of Aritele 13 of the Constitution, relating to taxation." . 'Vs" 'Vo." vnrt shah ofhrivis be :.,-e,.i,.f.d ami submitted to the plexor-- as mav lie otherwise provided by law, and said ballot Shalt be received, counted, count-ed, and eanyassed, and returns thereon be made in the same manner and In all respects as in or may be provided by law in the case of election of State of tieers. Sec. 4. If adopted by the electors or the Slate, tills amendment shall take effect January 1, 1 y IT. Approved March 2Uth, 1915. |
