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Show People, politics, policy and taxes, taxes, taxes By E. MARK BEZZANT We read in last weeks paper that there would not be an increase in the city's sales taxes for this coming year and that department heads were told to tighten their budget belts another notch. That article got me thinking about something that I have been thinking about for a long time, city taxes. So I dug up the tax notice for 1984 to see just how much Pleasant Grove city charged me.' After all, I have been told that we have the highest mill levy in the county at 19.77 mills. I found that the City of Pleasant Grove received 26.76 percent of my property tax payment for a total of $192.62. Now I ask myself what did I and the other citizens of Pleasant Grove get for our 26.76 percent and in my case $192.62. By the way an older home I am familiar with paid only $66.80 in property tax that went to the city of Pleasant Grove. The first thing that comes to mind is police protection. For 365 days a year I, my family and my property are protected day and night. If I have a problem the city will send an officer to my home and investigate, and if necessary prosecute the offender at no charge to me. This is no fly by night police force I am talking about. It is rated as one of the best small forces in the state. Even if I were to pay $1 per day for such service from a private company com-pany the total would be $365. The next thing that comes to find is the fire and ambulance service. I could get a free fire inspection, and 24 hours a day, 365 days a year I have trained volunteers who in an instants notice . would drop, everything to provide emergency assistance. . fhi fv- If I paid 50 cents a day for- this service the total would be $180 and who could put a price on the life of a loved one in an emergency, or who could measure the relief just knowing . they stand ready and trained to help. The next thing that comes to mind is the planning zoning and building inspection. I feel fairly confident that the homes and developments that are put in Pleasant Grove meet the building codes which make them safe, and would generally create a finer community in which to live. It is hard to put a price on something so important as good planning and zoning. Without it I could wake up tomorrow and find a building being put up on my property line and I would have to spend thousands of dollars in attorneys at-torneys fees to stop it. The present way I simply call the city hall and they check it out and pick up the bill. The next thing that comes to mind are the open areas we call parks. If the crowd is too large for the home front we can go to a park and enjoy the. facilities there, Recreation , programs and facilities, are also available at many levels. The next thing I get from my $192.62 are roads, curbs and sidewalks, which thanks to the mayor and council are improving. I can go from point A to point B with little trouble. In the winter the streets are plowed so I can still get from point A to point B without a four wheel drive. My taxes also go to pay the wages of the nice ladies like Joyce Poulsen and Donna Beck and Delia Davis at city hall who answer questions I might have about city matters. My dollars also will go to the new library I hope we build soon and they also go to the present 1 ibrary which my children cherish. Don't forget the animal control officer who keeps dogs and other unrulely animals under control so they don't bike, trample, or hurt me or my family or property. Maybe he could go after the deer in the orchards, or-chards, too. Not many but a few of my tax dollars go to help our senior citizens who in turn do so much for all of us. Sure I realize the city gets some of my sales tax and francise taxes, and gas tax to keep things going but , .on balance I feel good enough about ; my $192.62 to vote for a new city ; complex, which would include a library, and the city fathers could ' tack on a fire and ambulance house too. A majority of you said you felt the same. My friend who only had to pay $66.80 really got a deal. All of these services for less than 53 cents a day. A candy bar costs) cents, a Big Chill at Harts costs 29 cents on sale, a Guzzler at Mr. G's is 39 cents, canned pop is 50 cents, school lunch costs 85 cents. My, friend in the older home only pays about 20 cents a day. You can hardy start the car for 20 cents let alone drive down town for a big chill.. ' By the way, my tax notice also said that I paid $96.46 to Utah County. Now what did they do for me besides assess my property and send me the tax bill I am reading? |