Show Population shills shifts can have an effect on government PH 1 cos costs ls in f future u hi 1 Population shifts among different different different dif dif- ferent age groups could have an important bearing on governmental governmental governmental govern govern- mental costs In the years ahead This was the conclusion presented presented presented pre pre- in an analysis of population population population lation patterns In Utah prepared prepared prepared pre pre- pared by Utah Foundation the private tax research agency According to the Foundation the largest percentage gains during dwIng the were made In Inthe Inthe inthe the 18 through 20 and the 21 through 24 age groups For the most part these were the postwar postwar postwar post post- war babies born in the years Immediately after World War Two On the other hand the Foundation Foundation Foundation Found Found- reports that the number of individuals listed In the under Ii five ve group declined by more than 11 throughout the state between 1960 and 1970 This reduction reflects the steady decline In Utah's birth rate during recent years The immediate Implication of these changes according to the report Is that elementary and secondary school enrollments In Utah probably will decline during the next few years The extremely large increase In the college-age college group however has created a serious problem in the financing of higher edu edu- cation It is expected that col col- col lege-age lege population will continue continue continue con con- to rise for the next several years jears Foundation analysts point out that government costs are borne primarily by persons In the normal working-age working group 21 64 Between n 1960 and 1970 population in this age group rose roseby roseby roseby by compared with an increase in total lation In effect this population shift shUt means that Utah has proportionately proportionately pro pro- more potential tax producers and proportionately fewer tax consumers than was the case ten years ago This fact could tend to mitigate the therise therise therise rise in the tax burden somewhat somewhat somewhat some some- what in the years Immediately ahead In contrast to this more re recent recent recent re- re cent experience population growth In the normal tax pro age brackets was considerably considerably considerably con con- less than the growth in the tax consuming age groups during the 1950 1940 and the 1960 1950 decades It was this shifting population pattern that was a jamor contributing factor in the steadily rising Utah tax burden during much of the period since the end of ot World War Two The following tabulation shows the population by age brackets in Sanpete County ac according according according ac- ac cording to the 1970 Census of Population Age Per Cent Bracket No of total Under 5 83 5 17 2958 20 18 75 44 21 2259 64 45 2416 65 and over 1613 TOTAL r 1000 The Foundation report Indicates Indicates Indi Indi- cates that there were persons persons persons per per- sons per household In Sanpete County during the 1970 Census The population per household ranged from a low of in Salt Lake City to a high of In Kearns An Important factor accounting for the low figure reported for Salt Lake City Is the high proportion of apartment dwellers residing In Salt Lake City For the state as a whole the average household household household house house- hold in Utah numbered persons in 1970 compared with persons per household In 1960 |