Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 27, 1969)
HEPPNEB GAZETTE -TIMES. Thurutor. r.bn.rr V. A. Salem "11 1 1 Salet Tax Package In Hand cl Votore Nobodv under 4(1. 'x-,lt ,;' Isliiiors, him ever voted on the Oregon Miles X !'l,n; u IToiMini'ntH o( a Mate wiles lax ror offscttlnK local IrM irty i-h note that It ha nt been on the ballot for 22 yen", and thousands or new voices alt to be exercised. In 22 year. I"". Oregon has or Mates without this form of taxation. And manv more of our piesent citizens, over and under 40, now have lived with the ys t m In other Mates. Senate and House concurrence on the Issue here last week now clears the line for the voices of voters, old and new, to be heard i on juiic . ... Here is how the question will be worded, unless changed by the courts, on the special elec tion ballot: , School Tax Limitation and Sales Tax: Constitutionally lim its school property taxes and enacts 3 per cent sales tax and increased corporation taxes. Ex empts food and prescription medicines. School districts cnn not exceed property tax base without a vote of the people. Restricts number or school elec tions, providing uniform elec tion dates. Establishes new tax bases for schools. Entire pro ceeds of sales tax Constitution ally dedicated to reducing prop erty taxes. Sales tax cannot be increased without a vote of the people." School Budgets Limited More specifically, property tax levies for school districts would he limited to 5 per cent growth annually. This limit applies to new tax bases tor each district another provision of the overall package passed by the legislat ure. ... Elections to exceed the limi tation are restricted to two a year. If successful, such action would have to be followed at the next primary election by a new tax base election. A 3 per cent retail sales tax with the rate locked Into the Constitution and 16.5 per cent increase in corporate taxes is expected to raise about $106 million annually for property tax relief. Relief would be grant ed equally to all classes of prop erty, averaging about $6 per $1,000 of taxable property. Property taxes would be re duced by about 20 per cent on a statewide average. State reve nue would be returned directly to local government units, caus ing lower property tax state ments, via the Property Tax Re lief Fund established by the 191)5 legislature. Distribution Simplified This simplified distribution method was devised by the Sen ate after it was determined that returning sales tax money bv way of increased basic school support would shortchange some school districts notably No. 1 in Multnomah County. Another simplification enact ed by the Senate and concurred in by the House is the exemp tion of food from sales taxation. The House had first favored a graduated income tax refund system, which would have paid LICENSED a o n Hotih Star DIAL Home and Irrigation Wells P. O. BOX 21 BORING. OREGON 97009 Availoble Nitrogen has been leached down into the second TOP DRESS WITH: O N-SOL-32 (CHEAPER THIS YEAR) Or O AQUA AMMONIA Scene b,f.ttLCutt.r irreaier returns to low-Income funnliM and saved collection t,,t. u.,fiiitir4 Ti'ii i e con-1 cent would not be understood n voter and would nun ramim for the measure's passage. Restaurant meals would be Kuhie.1 to the hales tax. Other exemptions approved by the legislature Include private col leges, boxcar construction, feed, seed and fertilizers, and raw materials used In manufactur ing which do not become part ot a finished product. Cigarettes are "exempt" In the sense that no Increase would be added to the present 4 cents a pack sales tax. The Constitutional amend ment to be voted on does not improve the state basic school .......... - formula Legislators have sought for years to raise state support to 50 per cent of schools' operating costs, but the trend has been toward a de cline. The 20 per cent relief of lered hv the sales tax and cor porate tax Increase, however, would have the eftect of rais ing state aid to about 40 per cent. Elderly Homeowners Benetit Two provisions contained in Gov. Tom McCall's original rec- , mm.mftiillmitt U"fP lidded b' the Senate and approved by the House last week. One would fieeze homestead property t:ix es of homes appraised at S20, 000 or less true cash value when thev reach age 03. The other provides for income tax refunds on a sliding scale to homesteaders and renters who earn less than $3,500 annually. Estimated cost of the two pro visions Is $16.5 million a bien nius. It would be financed out of the general fund, and not hy the sales tax. Cost of collecting the sales tax would be about $2 million the first year and $1.5 million annually ' thereafter, estimates the Senate Tax Commission. Re tailers, to help offset their col lection costs, would be allowed to keep 1.5 per cent of their total sales tax collection the first year, and 1 per cent there after. L The tax would become effect ive July 1. 1969, ir approved, along with other provisions of the entire package. Property tax relief would first become evi dent with the mailing of state ments in the fall of 1970. Final legislative passage of the sales tax package now gives lawmakers time to con centrate on other issues, and they expert to be adjourned and at home by June 3. The legis lature did keep its promise to make tax reform the number one issue, and now for the first time in 22 years the question is in the hands of Oregon citizens. Ramps Closed Boat launching ramps at the Boardman Marine Park are tem porarily closed for repairs, it is announced. The public is advis ed not to use these ramps un til repairs are completed. Fur ther information may be ob tained from the Boardman City Hall. o e o INSURED Drilling Cq 430-345B With Prospects For Good Moisture For The Crops, Things We Should Consider-- WE HAVE ALL OF THEM AVAILABLE PLUS DRY FERTILIZERS Heppner Inland Chemical Service PH. HEPPNER 676-9103 Be Sure to Check our Prices We Are Competitive STATE CAPITOL Legislators Work In Many Areas Other Than Taxes Br ROBERT F. SMITH Speaker ol The House ... .f ihA nm.iniiiMr head- lines during the legislative ses sion have dealt wun me "; lect of prupcrtv tax relleL but legislative committees are work ing quietly In many areas or concern to Oregonians. One of the major problem ar eas receiving attention In the Senate and House Elections Committees Is the question ol election law reform. We need only to look at the primary and general elections of VMM to realize that our elec tion laws are full of loopholes and devoid of claritv. Candidates are often lert In the dark as to what the ground rules are. especially In the area or campaign financing and the definition of false statements. This law must be clarified so that candidates ior punuc ui rice know exactly what their re sensibilities are. Another situation where elec tion laws have failed to keep pace with the times is our wide ly heralded Presidential primary .election. . . , Oregonians found tnemscivi-s left in the lurch last year, with two announced candidates for the presidency. Gov. Rockefeller and Vice President Humphrey, being excluded from the bid- ""This absence from the ballot rendered the primary nearly meaningless. This could be changi'd bv not allowing candi dates to withdraw from the bal lot and bv extending the dead line for selecting the candidates. We might also consider remov al or the provision for placing vice presidential candidates on the ballot. Another area which calls for immediate attention is the cre ation of single-member legislat ive subdistricts. This would ef fect counties which have more than one representative or senator- Under the plan counties with more than one legislator would be divided into districts so that each legislator would have few er constituents to serve. This would allow him to provide bet ter service to those who elected him, and to keep closer contact with the rolks at home during a session. The constituents would know the exact identity of the person they should hold responsible. Moreover, there is tr .-. ,t,Hir nna vnlnr chnilld III ICMUII .v.v.. have the privilege of voting for several senators and several representatives while other vot ers can vote for only one of each. These are three of the import ant election revisions which de mand attention and hopefully, the legislature will be able to complete this task before ad journment. Your thoughts and comments on these election issues are ap preciated. Please keep those cards and letters coming in. PROPERTY TAX FAX QUESTION: Who composes the local Board of Equalization and how do you become a member? ANSWER: The local Board of Equaliza tion is composed of one member of the County Court (or County Commissioners) ; the senior member of the county budget committee an a non-office- i.i,i:., f.ni,v,n1Haii fnrnnppfv owner) who is appointed by the other two. iney serve a one vear term, beginning in November. ARMER: Or O AQUA and SULPHUR Or O ANHYDROUS NH3 Oregon Cattlemen There has been considerable HM-culntlon and i-oncerii by Ore eon cattlemen and others throughout the West as to what the courts, Congiess and gov ernment official will do con cerning Brazing fee Increase, according to Donald Ostensoe, executive vice-president, Oregon Cattlemen's Association. A suit riled against the gov. eminent opposing the public lands grazing fee increases nau a hearing in U. S. District Court in Albuquerque, N. M.. recently. District Judge Bratton said, "I will take this Injunction re quest under advisement and an nounce my decision within a week." This suit was brought by New Mexico rancher Ruben Pankey and Is endorsed fullv by the American National Cattlemen s Association. Pankey told Judge Bratton that "the estimated val ue or mv 72.000 acre ranch has decreased more than $250,000 as a result or the increased graz ing roes". Coblnet Opinions Given The cattle industry also re ceived the opinion or two cab Inet members. Secretary or Ag riculture Clifford H. Hardin an nounced In Washington, D. C, that the U. S. Forest Service would charge the higher fees on forest lands, and Secretary of In terior Walter J. Hickel issued a similar order to the Bureau of Land Management for range lands. The higher fees were recom- YOUR SENATOR REPORTS . . . Again this week taxes up staged all other activities of the legislature. It did so because of the dramatic manner in which it passed the Senate by a slim margin of 16-14. allow inc the people of Oregon to voice their opinion on a sales tax in June. This will be the first time in nearly 22 years the people of Oregon have had a chance to vote on such a measure. Although all the headlines were stolen by the tax drama, work was as vigorous and ac tive as ever. The Senate com mittee on Health and Welfare conducted its last meeting of the controversial issue of fluor idation. According to the com mittee's chairman, the commit tee will devote the next two weeks to studying the evidence found from their hearings. Meantime, the attorney general i acUnri fnr an ODinion on the constitutionality of the state paving tor nuoriue pins .1..., 1,1 ho riistrihuted at UlcVl v uum schools on a voluntary basis. The committee is also consid ering a proposal that would leave fluoridation up to the lo cal control. Would Cut Exemptions Literary, benevolent, cnarita ble, scientific, religious and fra nrirsnintinns mav lose their tax exempt status next year, if a bill introduced in the House is passed, ine oiu wuuiu levy a property tax the first year, of 10 per cent on the nor mal rate on the afore-mentioned property. An additional 5 per cent would then be levied every third year of application until reaching a ceiling of 25 per cent. It would apply January 1, 1970. Hospitals, orphanages and homes for the aged, which are organized to serve the poor, would continue to be exempt from the tax rolls. According to the author, the bill is intended to bring out greater equality in property taxes. A guarantee was given to the legislature this week that Ore- and third foot of soil. Eye Developments On Grazing Fees lout full hu th nut- lilt IH.VW going ndmlnlMmilnn In an at tempt to achieve what officials called a "fair market value" for gruring on public land. The pro iHisal was later nupported by the U. S. Budget Bureau. -r...,,.n livott.v-lf nueratorti have denounced the fee tioosN as a "threat -to tue existence or the state' cattle and sheep Industries. Jones Gives Advice Oregon Cattlemen's Associa tion President Dennv Jones. Jun tura. Is one of five Industry i t.. ultd nn lhn evecu tlve committee of the national Public Lands louncu. He had the following advice for Oregon ranchers. "After vis Itlng with Harry Lee. National -ui.nn r.r ihi Pnhllc Ijinds v imitiii'.ii ..... Council. I find there Is some dis agreement among me aaminia trators of our public lands as to whether a grazing license could be Issued without payment or whether we would be liable for trespass if we turned out with out a license. Therefore, the ad vice from the Oregon Cattle men's Association Is to pay your 1969 grazing fees when billed, and, if there U an adjustment on the fees, vou will be credit ed for it on your next year's li cense." At the request of the Oregon cattle industry and by many other organized state cattle as sociations and the American National Cattlemen's Associa tion, both houses of Congress BY KEN JERNSTEDT. STATE SENATOR 18th District Including Morrow county gon will never suffer from nu clear plant pollution. Chief en ninnor fr.r thp State SanitaTV AU thority, Kenneth Spies, said this guarantee win oe nonon-u Dreeon's strict restric tions against using water as a direct coolant ror nuclear power plants. He also noiea inai um nniintinn will be avoided ihm.inh hp reouirements of cooling lagoons and cooling towers. Flag Burners Target Controversy was a common element in bills introduced on nn..nv.ti.,o iWantinn. flap burn ing and motorcycle helmets and A bill was introduced at the request of the veterans which would provide for a penalty from $100 to $500, or a year in jail for persons desecrating a U S. Flag. , t . Legislation has been introduc ed to stiffen the penalties on marijuana and LSD pushers, and reduce the punishment on those who use the two drugs. Under the present law, both sale and use of "pot" are felonies, but sale and use of LSD are misdemeanors. On the lighter side, the Beav er the buck-toothed, furry friend of dam builders, made his notch in the marble halls of the Cap itol this week with the passage of the Senate's version of a hin that makes him Oregon s official state animal. The bill now goes to the House. Pioneer Ponderings Bv W. S. CAVERHILL A Successful Farmer's Reaction I encountered a large and suc cessful farm operator and asked his opinion on the impact of the proposed sales tax on his bus iness. His reply seemed sound to me. It follows verbatim for others to judge. "A 3 percent sales tax for prop erty tax relief? This sounds good, but let me tell you how this will effect me. In November I receive an estimated 25-30 per cent reduction in my property tax. But through the course of the year mv sales tax taxable farm and living expenses will replace this relief. This will hap pen whether the year has been profitable or not. "Some of my neighbors that rent much of their land would have very little tax reduction with much more tax in the form of a sales tax. Others that own their land and raise a crop ev ery other year with smaller farm expenses would probably have 5-10 percent relief. "A property tax relief that is ruicoH in some manner re lated to ability (income) is not relief. Flatt's Truck Service PHONE 989-8420 For Fast and Dependable FREIGHT TRUCK SERVICE Daily Overnight Service From Portland Including Saturdays MOVING? CALL US GENE ORWICK have granted public hearings on these grazing fee Increases. Hearing Scheduled The Senate subcommittee on public lands under the Chair manship of Senator Frank Church ID.-Ida.) will hold hear ings on February 27 and 28. The House or Representative sulcommiltee on public lands, under the Chairmanship of Wayne Asplnall. (D.-Col.l will hold their hearings on March 4 and 5. Jones and Charles Otley, chairman. OCA public lands committee, will attend and test ify at both or these Congres sional hearings in Washington. D. C, Forest Service fee hikes are variable and will average 5 or 6 cents an animal unit per month. Until now the Services fees have ranged from about 35c to $1.60 a month for each ani mal unit. The BLM Increase will boost (mm ill in die net animal unit in Eastern Oregon and from 63o to 71c in most Western Ore gon areas. lr..lnUa nf ti,At1ln(r nnt rA. V Ol 11 111 Ul niUM.MH ceDtlon invitation at Gazette- Time office. PENDLETON When you can't locate it or get it done in Hepp ner, these Pendleton Business and Professional Firms will be happy to serve you. Appliances Ed and Clay's APPLIANCE CENTER Sales nd Service Ph. 276-1170 207 S. E. Court Ave. Pendleton Ed Sailing Clayton Baker G.E. KitchenAid Electricians ZEPHYR ELECTRIC, INC. 332 S. E. Emigrant Ave. W. F. (Mike) ZIMMERMAN Pendleton, Oregon 97801 Bus. Phone 276-6921 Hearing Aid Service Res. Phone 276-C3S9 WILL A HEARING AID HELP YOU? Be Positive ... Try Before You Buy! ASK ABOUT OUR RENTAL PLAN CALL 276-3155 m MAICO Pharmacy MEDICAL CENTER PHARMACY Prescriptions Mailed Free Anywhere V" '"' ' ' Hospital Supplies Sales or Rental Ph. 276-1531 Emerg. Ph. 276-1358 11UU SOUtngaie, renuiemn Pumps, Irrigation Vv- GREEN ::'.:3 stamps! 3 COLUMBIA PUMP & IRRIGATION Phone 276-3681 Pendleton Sharpening Service Clipper Blades Sharpened All Kinds $1 per set Cash PENDLETON SHARPENING 418 N. W. 6th Pendleton, Ore. 97801 CALL THE GAZETTE-TIMES FOR DIRECTORY AD RATES 676-9228 Women's Wear Spray Club Started tt the Needle in Haystack 4 II flub w he d In the Spray hcihkm L-bruarv 11 at 3:30 p.m. We ,-U-cted olliivn. They are pre- Ident, lVt.hle Htllt; vice pn-.-dent. Sherrlll Aditnix; wcretary. KriMi Holier; reporter. lxniit.i llrillith. and sergeant at arms. Barbara Adam. Our leader are Bonnie Kyle and handy Britt. We filled out our memlH'rship blanks. Our second run-linn wa held at the Bonnie Kvle home reb ruary 18. Kristl Fisher and Do nlta Griffith were asked to Rive demonstration on how to make pin cushion at the next mectlni;. Sherrlll and Barbara Adams furnished refreshment, and Bonnie Kyle served the Kool Aid. Donlta Griffith, reporter Mr. end Mr. Arnold Raymond and family spent the past week end in McMlnnvllle where they visited hi father, Clayton Ray mond, and his older sister. LoU Francis. Thev also enjoyed a visit with another sister and bro ther who came with their fam ilies from Albanv to visit at the Raymond home. Returning home on Sunday, the family traveled via Monmouth, where they stop ped ror a visit with his aunt, Mrs. Lucille Lamb. Furniture BRANDL'S FURNITURE AND APPLIANCE George and Jean Brandl, Owners Everything in Used Furniture and Appliances at the Lowest Prices In Eastern Oregon. Ph. 276-2353 301 S. W. 20th Pendleton Open Six Days A Week to Serve You Hardware, Lumber BOYSEN PAINTS LUMBER HARDWARE Tum-A-Lum Lbr. Co. (OREGON LUMBER YARD) 432 S. E. Dorion Ph. 276-6221 PLYWOOD-ROOFING READY-MIX PRODUCTS or write Lester Ruud Hearing Aid Service 21 S. W. Dorion St. Pendleton, Ore. 97801 Call The HEPPNER GAZETTE-TIMES Ph. 676-9228 For information on advertising in this directory Peerless Pumps Wade Rain Irrigation WELL TESTING 8" bowls to 1450 GPM Also 6", 10", 11", 12" Bowls Sheet Metal Thews Sheet Metal, INC. LENNOX COMFORT General Sheet Metal Work 1907 SW Court PI. Ph. 276-3751 Harold Hendricks, Owner Air Conditioning-Heating WE'VE GOT CLOTHES FOR EVERYONE "It's only the look that's expensive" THE FRANCES SHOP EXCLUSIVELY WOMEN'S WEAR Pendleton. Oregon 276-4652
