Show Decrease seen in Utah's tax levy in A small reduction in the state property tax levy is in the offing for 1961 and but this expected decline may be more than offset by hikes in local property tax rates in some areas of the This was the conclusion presented in a research report analyzing the fiscal results of the 1961 Utah Legislative Session by Utah the private governmental research The Foundation expects the state property tax levy to be set somewhere between 4 and 5 mills during each of the next two The state levy was mills in 1960 and mills in Foundation analysts point that local taxes may be Increased in some areas of the because of the substitution of single overall mill rate limitations for the specific purpose levy maximums in counties and The only major tax law change in according to the was the one-half cent increase in the state sales and one reason for this hike the aim to reduce the state property tax levy needed in 1961 and Accompanying the sales tax increase was the provision that of all state sales tax revenue is to be earmarked for the Uniform School This provision will the effect of placing approximately million of sales tax revenue in the school fund during the next and reduce the state property tax levy that otherwise would be needed by about 4 mills each Spending levels for general governmental purposes approved by the 1961 Utah Legislature were held very close to the conservative budget proposals of the the study points In only a modest increase in the state-guaranteed school operating program was allowed this Several new programs requiring state funds were established by the 1961 Utah according to the Among the more important of these new programs estimated biennial cost for the State in paren are a new state retirement program medical care program for the medically indigent state aid program for juvenile detention facilities mental health program an expanded vocational training program and on educational research program Although appropriations for the state building program were reduced from in to in the total funds available for state building projects will bel increased because of the authority to borrow million from the State Treasurer's balances for this purpose during the coming The Foundation report observes that the practice of borrowing from Treasurer's which was begun in was continued and extended iby the 1961 Such loan authorizations now total Repayment of these loans must be made from future with the first repayments scheduled for the Legislation enacted by the 1961 Session establishes a state-aid program for local schools construction that is geared to local debt retirement of the school In the bonded debt limits of school districts were raised about To help finance this million appropriation was This compares with million appropriated for emergency school construction by the 1959 Utah In a summary analysis of the state financial the Foundation observes the school construction a General Fund probably will end next biennium with a million tax revenue to the Uniform on the other will be million short of meeting all of the School Fund's based on Foundation Since this deficiency under Utah Law is automatically made up by a state property it appears that an average state levy of mills per assessed will be needed during each of the next two years to balance the Adolf former Gestapo colonel know I can expect the death sentence and I don't ask for I cannot claim mercy because I know I am not worthy of |