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Show - No charges were issued ran 01 me ueins ian.cn Arguments Against By opposing Proposition 1, we do not intend to tax truly charitable hospitals. The constitution does not have to be changed to make charitable hospitals The present constitution and Utah Supreme Court rulings provide a method for charitable hospitals to be if they meet certain requirements. For example, because Shriner's Hospital and Primary Children's Medical Center provide much charity care, they have never paid property taxes, If they remain charitable, they probably never will. Proposition 1 is unnecessary! hospitals are often no different than hospitals. In the past, hospitals were not taxed because they cared for the sick and poor. They were often operated by religious groups only to provide a public service. Because hospitals were genuine charities and served a public purpose, they deserved tax exemptions. Now, there is little difference between many hospitals and hospitals run for profit. hospitals are big businesses, often run by large corporations. Some supposedly charitable hospitals even turn way or sue patients who cannot pay. These hospitals should not receive property tax exemptions. It is time to tax hospitals unless they really are charities. If a hospital or nursing home does not provide charity care, then it should pay property taxes. If this amendment that is set up to be Passes, any hospital or nursing home ion profit would be even if it gives no charity care at all. There will be no incentive for hospitals to provide chanty care. Only charitable non-prof- hospitals should be tax exempt. By defeating Proposition 1, we encourage hospitals to be 'rue charities. Proposition 1 is too vague, and could allow hospital to 'void taxes unfairly. The field of health care changes every day. Given the way the amendment is worded, it is difficult to know hwit might be interpreted. Clinics and other medical facilities mght qualify as if they are set up as corporations. Passing this amendment could encourage many institutions to set up as corporations just to avoid taws. County boards of equalization could not review the status of these hospitals and nursing homes. Now, counties can require """ profit depending on how rnucn hospitals to pay taxes, Parity care they give. Let's not give tax exemptions thai ar'ljustified! for everyone . If Unfair tax exemptions cause higher taxes nursing homes and hospitals take unfair advantage ol tn s amendment to avoid paying taxes, we will lose tax dollars. All 'payers will have to pay more to make up for the loss. One oi thf reasons that property taxes are so high now is there are to pay relatively few people in the state who are required Property taxes. Proposition 1 would leave other taxpayers ml an unfair tax burden. Vote "AGAINST" Proposition 1! Reoresentative Joseph M. Moody ?2 West 10o North Delta, Utah 84624 Representative Spencer Wyatt Drive 204 East Elberta Ogden, Utah 84404 gf said, r.theclassroom for his or her Dr. Cox said Rebuttal to Arguments Against Proposition No. 1 The Utah State Legislature passed overwhelmingly Propo- - sition 1 by a vote of 25 to 2 in the Senate, and 61 to 9 in the House of Representatives. The Legislature passed this proposition: I I. To clarify the recent Utah Supreme Court rulings on property tax exemptions. Unless Proposition 1 is passed, these ruHngs may take several years and hundreds of thousands of dollars in hearings and legal expenses to clarify, resulting in increased cost to patients. f1 hospitals like Primary Children's Medical Center, which a provide millions of dollars in charity care, may be taxed because the court's rulings are vague and difficult to apply. j11 II. Non-profi- t hosptials and hospitals AKE dif-- jj, ferent. All revenue generated by hospitals is us used to provide new equipment, facilities, and services for ja the communities they serve. hospitals distribute $ a portion of their earnings to investor owners. us hospitals have no investor owners, only exist to benefit the irc communities they serve, and under traditional American law have been exempt from taxes. III. To continue an exemption which has existed since KM statehood. The proposition is clear and precise. Only lei non profit hospitals and nursing homes as defined by state ,ts statute will qualify for exemption. No new exemptions will ;ie be created. IV. To avoid a new tax on the sick, the elderly, and the poor, J those who can least afford it. The proposition will avoid a new regressive sick tax of the worst kind: the sicker you are the more you will pay. j Vote "FOR" Proposition 1. Avoid a new sick tax. n Senator Warren E. Pugh 5124 Cottonwood Lane s' Salt Lake City, Utah 84117 .sh bee Senator Fred W. Finlinson j b 720 Shiloh Way jn Murray, Utah 84107 rtei yD ick it i oks i ni ictic that le y r th rn a ;e m ibite Us. weai urch eels g the :m or uple und vboy ngs. , o r 'ii a gre Page 9 |