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Show CUP okays $20 million budget The Central Utah Water Conservancy District has approved a budget for 1984 that is doubles the district's 1983 spending. But district officials were told that despite the $20 million budget for 1984, taxes throughout the district will drop in 1984. Because the conservancy district will be transferring over $13 million from its reserve funds to help pay for new watcrwork facilities during the year, property tax levels are expected to drop from the current 2 mills - the maximum allowed to the district - to 1.27 mills. (A mill equals $1 for every $1,000 of assessed valuation.) The board will set 1984 mill levies the middle of next year. That transfer will leave the district with $10 million in the its reserve fund, district manager Lynn Ludlow told the board. In addition to $12.5 million for the consruction of a new water treatment treat-ment plant in Vernal, the district has set aside an additional $5 million for payment on the Jordan Aqueduct-Reach Aqueduct-Reach 4 and Alpine Aqueduct-Reach 3. District officials expect construction con-struction on that project to begin next spring in the northern part of the county near the West Jordan water treatment plant. However, the Bureau of Reclamation is still having problems getting easements through the northern Utah County communities com-munities who have opposed the project since its inception. (See related story.) The BOR may be required to go to court to carry out the necessary condemnation proceedings to get those easements. The only point of discussion in the budget was a request for. personnel services which reflects a 3.8 percent increase over 1983 spending. Several directors said they weren't sure district employees should be getting any increase in salaries, considering restrictions that are expected to be placed on state employees by the 1984 legislature when it meets . next month. The board passed a motion to limit any increases in salaries .to a total of 3 percent over the 1983 budget, although individual increases could vary within the overall budget. Any salary increases will be subject to board approval. |