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Show - - wicu. fttrtJ r v. - - -- 'f ulim pi1 Arguments Against Farming is a vital American industry. Consequently govern-ment, particularly the federal government, has established many and varied programs over the last 125 years to assist farmers and American agriculture. This has benefitted all Americans. Because the federal government during the last six years has done so poorly by American agriculture, I see the present state effort to give "farm aid" by way of property tax exemptions on farm equipment as a poor, inequitable, and certainly anti-fre- enterprise manipulation ofour state lax system. This exemption should not be allowed in the constitution! Although some farmers are struggling right now, in the future they may not be. The constitution is hard to change. If we place a special exemption in the constitution, it will be hard to take out later if necessary. The constitution is not the place for an exemption of this sort. The Legislature has already helped farmers through the Green Belt amendment. For example, property used for farming is taxed at a fraction of its value, and all livestock and irrigation equipment is tax exempt. Farmers already benefit from tax breaks that save them millions of dollars in taxes each year. It is not fair to give one group of businessmen, in this case farmers, further tax breaks at the expense of other businesses and individuals! To avoid higher taxes which might be imposed on other Poups, I recommend voting "AGAINST" Proposition 2! Senator Karl G. Swan 347 Upland Drive ' Tooele, Utah 84074 Proposition 2 would increase the burden on other payers. Property taxes, including taxes on land, buildings and Personal property (like equipment and cars), are established ' "ie Utah Constitution. There are few exemptions, and new exemptions cannot be added without a vote of the people, ine constitution intended that everyone pay taxes, because everyone Reives the benefits of government. Further exemptions UKe hse proposed by Proposition 2 would make others pay more taxes. , Taxes should be fair! The fairest tax is a badly applied should be given w with few exemptions. Fair exemptions ""Wie, or to as many as possible. Exemptingonly farmers lrom P.r,Perty faxes on equipment is not fair. It means taxpay hkyou and me M have to bear more of the tax burden. farmers and not others? To be fair, this exemption Wo"'1 have to be given to other groups and industries on Wpment constitute up to 60 of property taxes paid by some ""toWes. asked for a s mUar Several groups have already from "Ption. exempt Many of us would like to have our cars las, too. However, exempting everyone from taxes or. equip homes na or care would cause massive tax increases n "Besses, I, is not fair to like this only give an exemption farmers. To taxes fair, and as low as possible , let's not f we allow exemption! that are unfair to most Utahns! csn't grant this exemption fairly, let's not grant it at all. vte "AGAINST" Proposition 2! Representative Franklin W.Knowlton Layton, Utah 84041 liofsaicLx .the -- classroom for his or her Dr. Lox saia i Rebuttal to ! Arguments Against Proposition No. 2 Opponents to the passage of Proposition 2 have suggested that exempting farm machinery from property tax is inequitable " and unfair because it shifts the tax burden to other property. In fact, it does shift the tax burden and it should because farmers are now paying a disproportionate share of their income on property taxes (nearly 50). Please remember that farmers own homes and automobiles and other personal property, too. C We must correct the inequity in the tax system to help preserve Utah agriculture, the food machine that feeds us all I - j three times a day. j. Some argue that such an exemption does not belong in the constitution. More than s of our legislators ts disagree. tis las Please vote "FOR" Proposition 2. jth Senator Cary G. Peterson iisi 406 East 500 North ro Nephi, Utah 84648 ritl For those who say we should treat those in agriculture the same as other businesses, we agree. However, there is a law in - ? Utah that allows most businesses to mark their product up at least 6 above cost, before resale. Farmers cannot set their prices, and their products are selling below cost of production. f Farmers are caught in the middle. The constitution drafted in 1895 under very different ts conditions allows for change as conditions change. In 1895 the n. j majority of Utahns were directly involved in agriculture. Now only 2 are farmers. th j With the very expensive machinery they use and their ni products selling below cost, they cannot continue to operate. At rs- - least 12 other states, including Colorado, Oregon, Nebraska, and s- Texas have exempted farm machinery from property tax. Representative Evan L. Olsen j 2009 South 3200 West, Route 1 in y Young Ward, Utah 84339 rtec yD ick it i: oks i ni ;ctio that ie yc r th rn a :e m ibitei its. ! wear urch eels the :m or jple und vboy ngs. 1 Jlen a gre |