Blog Poll or what do ya know and think?

What does Hilldale, Ut. where most of the large polygamist families are and BYU students in Provo have in common? Answer: Most child births are paid for by taxpayers (Medicare).

Utah's total local and state tax burden is 10.7%. According to the Utah Taxpayer Association Utah ranks sixth in the Nation in total tax burdens.

"Utah has the youngest population and highest birth rate in the nation, so it is not surprising that our schools have the largest class sizes. And they will continue to grow. The best antidote would be to abandon a tax system that subsidizes families with many children." (Salt Lake Tribune)

"According to U.S. Bureau of Census data released April 2000, Utah "spends a larger percentage of state dollars on education" than any other state in the union." (Deseret News, Apr 2000)

2001 National Centers for Health Statistics, The new federal study reported that Utah's "fertility rate" -- the number of live births per 1,000 women ages 15 to 44 -- was 93.1. That is 41 percent higher than the national average of 65.9. The next highest fertility rate among the states was 81.1 in Arizona... The report also figured the state's "birthrate" -- the number of live births per 1,000 residents. Utah's birthrate was 21.7 per 1,000 residents -- again, the highest in
the nation, and a third higher than the national average of 14.5.

According to information from income tax returns, Utah has the largest average family size in the country. Utah has four of the top five counties in the country in the US for that statistic, and the most of any state in the top 50 rankings. [Source: Salt Lake Tribune]

Warmed up? How about a survey/poll?

(a) I believe the current property tax system based upon current market value is valid and does not need changing. Yes/No

(b) I believe with some "tweaks" to the current market value system of reassessments like allowing more than one acre to receive the 45% residential discount, putting caps on seniors property assessments, deferred taxation for seniors over 65 and the like will fix the system.
Yes/No

(c) The current market value system of reassessment results in taxes on unrealized capital gains and escalates property values falsely which increases property taxation whether the tax rate or so called Certified Tax Rate increases or decreases. Yes/No

(d) I understand that 100% of my "Income Tax" goes to education (about 80% to public schools, 20% to higher education) PLUS another 55 to 75% of my property taxes all of which goes to the public school districts. And this is perfectly fine with me. Yes/No

(e) I know about the Salt Lake Tribune website, utahsright.com, which shows all public employee salaries by county and includes each school district's employees also. I know many salaries shown represent about half of the taxpayer expense unless benefits for retirement, medical and dental, stipends etc. are added. Yes/No

(f) I understand that our public employees and school district employees are all unionized.
Yes/No

(g) Who is the most powerful and most wealthy lobby group in the State?
Fill in the blank____________________

(h) What are "Centrally Assessed Properties" and who generally are they?
Fill in the blank_________________________________________

(i) Who is your Representative and are your Senators?
Representative for Weber Co area is: ________________________
Senators for District 18,19 & 20:____________________________
__________________________,_________________________

(j) Have you looked at the Weber County Budget available on line? What is the amount of the raises the Commissioners are proposing to give all County employees? How much of our RAMP Grant money is being proposed to be spent on the new Washington Terrace Library construction?
Yes/No
If "Yes", amount of raises and costs to taxpayers is $____,____,______
If "Yes", RAMP Grant money for new library construction is $_______________

(k) Do you think Recreation, Arts, Museums, and Parks (RAMP) money obtained from the .1% of our sales taxes should be spent to build a library? Would that mean RAMP should be LRAMP?
Yes/No
Yes/No

(l) How do you feel about County supervisors who can not discriminate between performers who deserve "Merit raises" and non performers who cause problems within their departments? They must all get the same raises without any "relative merits" involved? Fair? Balanced? Honest? Or just plain counter to common sense management principles?
Essay answer________________________________________________________________
(m) Do you plan to attend the Weber County Budget hearing on 6 December (this Wednesday) at 0600 PM? Yes/No

(n) I think this poll is really a confused survey, poll, challenge to get involved. Yes/No

You can register your answers either by using the "comments" on this blog or email your responses directly to the Minor Machman" @ dkbell266@yahoo.com