Show TO THE TAXING authorities OF UTAH the time for placing the tax levy is here A grave responsibility is yours with you lies the fate of the taxpayer crippled and weakened as lie he is by years of adversity lie he is on the verge of collapse if he is to survive the crushing tax load must be lifted from his back tax relief must be granted you are sympathetic with his condition anticipated improvement in economic conditions has been delayed may alay we remind you of the present situation I 1 it is estimated that state levies will be increased by more than 3 mills 2 the cash income from utah farms including federal subren eions was in 1938 compared with in 1929 a loss of 33 in 10 years 3 the value of metals mined in utah was in 1929 this dropped to in 1938 a reduction of 53 in 10 years 4 while there was a combined loss of 46 in the two basic industries dus tries of the state agriculture and mining in 10 years the tax load state and local has jumped irom from to for 1938 or 30 5 the cost of living has gone down in the past 10 years and the index of wholesale prices has dropped in the same time this means that 85 and 80 respectively will buy as much as at the earlier period the tax bill should be reduced to conform therewith 6 the condition of utah ranges is now 9 below the 10 year average drought 7 the U S D A estimate the wheat yield at 42 below that of last year and 26 below the 10 year average 8 the sugar beet production is estimated at T compared with T in 1938 this is a loss of 37 the outlook is black in view of the facts here presented we request that taxes be reduced to nt it the reduced taxpayer I 1 may we suggest that as a means of effectuating necessary relief to the taxpayer that you now carefully I 1 reanalyze analyze re y your 0 u r budgets eliminate all but essential activities 1 postpone capital commitments cut the levy to conform to the decreased ability of the taxpayer his survival demands a slashing of the tax bill bare necessities are available to the taxpayer that is all he can afford in government ern ment utah taxpayers association |