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About Nyssa gate city journal. (Nyssa, Or.) 1937-199? | View Entire Issue (Oct. 24, 1968)
» THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24. 1968 THE NYSSA GATE CITY JOURNAL, NYSSA, OREGON PAGE TWO FHA GIRLS BEGIN The Gate City Journal FAITH LUTHERAN CHURCH NOTES TED M. BRAMMER, Editor and Publisher » <7** SUBSCRIPTION NfWSMMI Members of theCouples’club of Faith Lutheran church will meet at 8 o’clock this evening, Oct. 24, in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Kassman, at 605 N. Second street. RATES Single Copies............10? In Malheur County, Ore gon, and Payette and Canyon Counties, Idaho: One Year................ $4.00 Six Months.............$2.75 Elsewhere in the U. S. A. Per Year.................$5.00 Six Months.............. $3.00 PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION NATIONAL NEWSPAPER A ttuimi «’ trini According to Pastor Orville Jacobson, eight young people from Faith Lutheran church will dedicate their lives to Jesus Christ on Sunday, Oct. 24, during the ‘Rite of Confirma tion.’ The young people have undergone intensive training for the past two years under the pastor’s supervision. The students are Ronnie Schoen, Brent Richesin, Dan Nichols, Sharlene Kido, Patty Ross, Pat Neely, Joe Nelson and Greg Michael. Published Every Thursday at Nyssa, Malheur County, Oregon Entered at the Post Office at Nyssa, Oregon, for Trans mission through the United States Mails, as a Second Class Matter under the Act of March 3, 1879. WHY I VOTE The blood of free men stains by ballot sheet. Whatever others may do, I shall not carelessly make my mark. I vote not because I can, but because I must. Those that died for this, my voice in my Government, had a right to expect that I would prepare with every faculty to use it wisely, honestly, and courageously. They did not die that blind partisans, or the reckless might make a game of free elections. Only my secret heart knows whether I justify the defini tion of “Voter” as they wrote it in the reddening sand. If I love my country as they did, I question my qualification again and again. I carefully study the issues and candidates to determine not what is best for me or my minority, but what is best for my country. I will not be confused or deceived by propaganda, slogans, or histronics. I shield my eyes to the glitter of personal ities, purge my mind of passion and prejudice, and search diligently for the hidden truth. I must be free of all influence save that of conscience and justice. I vote as if my ballot alone decided the contest. I may lose my preference, but I will not throw away my sacred vote. For within the booth I hold in my humble hand the living proxy of all my country’s honored dead. - Reprint from an nual report for the American Bar Association on “American Citizenship” by Ralph Bushnell Potts. ADRIAN COMMUNITY CHURCH A Presbyterial meeting will be held Friday morning at the Southminster church in Boise. There will be a coffee hour at 9:30, followed by a meeting at 10 o’clock. Those planning to attend are asked to take a sack lunch. The youth groups from Parma, Homedale and Roswell will meet with Adrian youths at 7 o’clock Sunday evening, Oct. 27 at the Adrian church. ^or FOR A °N|C ley of Talihina, Okla. From 7 to 9 p.m. on Thurs The infant has been named Troy Stuart, and is a great- day, Oct. 31 young people from grandson of Mrs. Sarah Hob the community will be calling at each home for a “Trick or son of rural Nyssa. Treat” for UNICEF. UNICEF is the only United Nations agencyexclusivelycon- cerned with the well being of chledren. The budget provides aid to basic health services, it as sists nutrition projects, sup ports education and vocational training, and trains local per- sonel to assist their children.” Not one cent is used to ad ministrate these great ser vices. The young people are asked Full Protection to meet at the following places for the area they will canvas: at Low Cost Fourth-sixth grade at Nyssa Cristian church; junior high students at St. Bridget’s Cath olic parish hall; high school students at St. Paul’s Episco pal church. After the door-to-door col lection, the young people will THREE OFFICES TO SERVE YOU! return to the place where they began for Halloween parties. Pastor Orville A. Jacobson of Lloyd Bone Phone Faith Lutheran church is this years chairman. SUNSET VALLEY - Mr. and Mrs. Jim Langley have receiv ed announcement of the arrival of a grandson born Oct. 19, 1968 to Dr. and Mrs. Rex Lang- INSURANCE HI FOR ALL YOUR NEEDS | I' •Life •liability *Au*o •Fira Disability NOLAN FIELD INSURANCE AGENCIES YOUR hwamr Vale Phone Nyssa Ontario MAGAZINE DRIVE Members of the Nyssa chap ter of the Future Homemakers of America have launched their annual magazine drive which started Oct. 23 and will run until Nov. 27. Business man ager for this project is Patty Lowe, and team captains are Becky Blaylock and Shirley Cleaver. According to the rules, the losing team will be forced to treat the winning team with a banquet to be held in December. Proceeds from the drive will go to purchase a refrigerator for the conference room in the Nyssa public library. LIMITATION v v * v r v ELECT Physicians and Surgeons K. F. KERBY, M. D. K. A. DANFORD, M. D. HENRY ESPLIN Physicians and Surgeons Dial 372-2241 REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE HOURS: 9 to 12 noon & 2 to 5 P.M. - Monday through F ridav. 10 to 12 Saturday. for MALHEUR COUNTY COMMISSIONER KNOWS FEDERAL MONEY COMES FIRST FROM LOCAL TAXPAYERS AND IS NOT A GIFT. I BELIEVES WE NEED BETTER ROADS, BETTER PRAC TICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND A BROADER TAX BASE. Have Been A Resident Of Malheur County 25 Years, Own and Operate A Livestock Farm Near Nyssa, Am Chairman Of Nyssa School Board & A Farm Bureau Member. INQUIRE Of THOSE WHO KNOW ME ! (Pol. Ad Paid For By Henry Esplín - Route »2 Nyssa) MAULDING CLINIC L. A. Maulding, M. D. Physician and Surgeon Dial 372-2216 HOURS: 9 to 12 noon and 2 to 5 p. m., - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. 9 to 12 noon, Sat- .irday. Weight labs "By «ppointment only” - Wed nesday DAVID W.SARAZ1N.M D. Physician and Surgeon HOURS: 10 to 12 noon 4 2 to 5p.m. - Monday, Tues day, Wednesday, Friday. 10 to 12 Thursday 4 Saturday. Phones; Office 372-3365 _-Jtesidtnc^72-3l73^ REALIZES (LIKE ANY OTHER FARMER - STOCKMAN) THAT TAXPAYERS MUST LIVE WITHIN INCOME REGARDLESS OF HOW IDEAL THE PROJECT. KNOWS ALL PEOPLE HAVE PROBLEMS AND WANTS TO HEAR ALL SIDES BEFORE MAKING A DECISION. and these I just mentioned. First, an increase in the per sonal income tax for 80 per cent; and secondly, a sales tax that either has a high rate or that taxes food, drugs and ser vices. A third major source of revenue would be the elim ination of property tax exemp tions. But you would have to eliminate the exemptions on such property as household goods, motor vehicles and in tangible personal property such as checking and savings ac counts, insurance equity, etc., because over 80 per cent of privately-owned exempt pro perty is in these three cat egories. The fourth source of revenue could be increased user charges on such services as water, sewage, etc. This, of course, would not necessarily require legislative action. If the legislature increases taxes to assist local government under this measure, then we have a distribution problem. That is the problem of distri buting State-collected mon ey back to local government in a fair and simple way. Even if the legislature can overcome the hurdles I have mentioned, it probably could not provide the money in time to head off massive cutbacks, at least initially, at all levels of local government. The fourth point--Property taxes do not now constitute 1-1/2 per cent of market value in many areas of the State. I think a Tax Commission report, recently issued, showed that 23 per cent of the code areas were below this level, and this is particularly true in rural areas where fewer local gov ernment services are per formed. In these areas, pro perty taxes could be raised un der this provision substantially. The increase from 1 per cent or 1-1/4 per cent up to 1-1/2 per cent, in these areas, could be without a vote of the people because the 6 per cent limita tion, which regulates this kind of growth in tax levies, would be repealed. Point number five: it would take years of litigation to de termine what this proposal means. Just recently the Leg- is lative Tax Study Committee requested the opinion of the State Attorney General on 19 particular issues that have been raised about the 1-1/2 per cent limitation. This will give you an indication of the legal pro blems that are built into this because of the vague language that is involved. Here are some of the ques tions that they have asked and not yet received answers from the Attorney General: 1. a. What is the meaning of true cash value? In sub section 1 of the proposed tax limitation, what is the meaning of it? b. Can the legislature de fine true cash value for pro perty tax purposes as well as for other purposes in the pro perty tax field, such as for setting the standard of value for timber or farmland? 2. a. Does the 1-1/2 per (Continued On Page 5) Professional Directory A CHANGE ON THE LOCAL LEVEL I OF Let us review very briefly the contents of the 1-1/2 per cent limitation. Essentially petition calls for an amendment to our constitution, limiting the total amount of property taxes that all local taxing districts can levy against any par cel of property to 1-1/2 per cent of its market value. It exempts from the limitation tax levies for payment of principal and interest on bonded indebtedness. It permits the limitation to be exceeded by a vote of the people, once a year, at the general election in even numbered years, and at a comparable date in odd years when there is no general election. However, 20per cent of the registered voters must vote in favor of the measure, and those 20 per cent must also constitute a majority. The measure gives the legislature authority to implement this constitutional amendment and, AHS CALENDAR finally, it repeals the present constitutional restriction that limits a local government tax levy to an annual increase of 6 per cent. TODAY - 3 p.m. AHS band Let me explain the signi to the State Tax Commission marches in the Idaho District ficance of this last point. The and others, imposition of the 3 marching festival atCaldwell. present 6 per cent limit is a proposed 1-1/2 per cent lim TODAY - 8 p.m*. Bonfire and restriction on the total amount itation would reduce local gov Freshman talent show. of money in dollars that each ernment revenue by as much Oct. 25-3 p.m. Homecoming district may levy over the pre as $150 million a year, or parage through Adrian. vious year, or more techni roughly 37 per cent of the rev Oct. 25-8 p.m. Varsityfoot- cally, over its tax base, with enue raised from this source. ball Wilder at Adrian. out a vote of the people. In There are estimates ranging all Oct. 25 - Following game contrast, the 1-1/2 per cent the way from $105 to $150 Homecoming dance with The Sun would apply to the combined million. The more practical of Caldwell. All alumni wel tax levy of districts and would range of estimate of loss, I come. Oct. 28 - J.V. football at be tied to the market value of think, is the $130 to $150 mil property rather than to the lion dollars. And, of course, Middleton. previous year’s levy or the tax 64 cents of every one of these base. Clearly, this is a lim property tax dollars goes to itation on local government, schools. because all the property tax Proponents argue that by goes to local government -- combining districts and cutting HELLO not a penny goes to the State. duplication and waste in local This proposed 1-1/2 percent government that local govern WORLD! limitation’s most apparent sel ment could absorb this loss. ling point is that it would reduce There is, of course, waste in MALHEUR MEMORIAL property taxes for a majority government. There is waste HOSPITAL o f taxpayers. For example, in private industry. No govern property taxes averaged mental or private institution is Oct. 18 - To Mr. and Mrs. roughly 2.6 per cent of market waste-free. But, certainly, on Camelo Espinoza of Nyssa, a value in Portland last year. the basis of many investiga 6 pound, 4 ounce girl named Under this limitation this would, tions, it is obvious to most Leticia. of course, be reduced to 1-1/2 responsible groups that local 21 - To Mr. and Mrs. Oct. per cent, at least, initially. government, including schools, Haken Anderson of Harper, a On the other side of the coin, fire districts, water districts, boy. the proposal has, at least, six the assessor’s office, and so Oct. 23 - To Mr. and Mrs. major defects: on, could not adequately per Richard Gustavson of Nyssa, 1. It would short-change form their function with a re a girl. local government as much as venue loss of this magnitude. $150 million a year and vir This measure also raises the ROSARY HOSPITAL HOLY tually destroy local control. monumental question of who gets 2. Almost 40 per cent of how much of the remaining Oct. 18 - To Mr. and Mrs. the relief granted under this property tax revenue, the Walter Hines of Nyssa, a boy. Act can be given to property amount available under the 1- taxpayers inMultnomahCounty. 1/2 per cent limitation, This 3. It will require massive constitutional proposal says METHODISTS PLAN new revenue sources at a State that the legislature will make level if schools and local gov the determination. In other SPECIAL SERVICE ernment are to survive. words, they will say how much Members of the WSCS of 4. It could result in higher the assessor’s office gets, they Nyssa Methodist church will property taxes for many tax will say how much the schools, participate at 2 p. m. Thurs payers. cities, counties, fire districts, 5. Oregon’s tax structure etc., will get of the remaining day, Oct. 31 in the annual Week of Prayer and Self Denial ser will be a quagmire of uncer revenue. Presently, local needs vice to be held in the church tainty during the years of li are determined on a local level. parlor. tigation necessary to find out This would not be true under The service was initiated in precisely what the vague terms the 1-1/2 per cent limitation. 1887 and focuses on guided mis in this proposal mean. Point number two: nearly sion study. More than 1,541,- 6. After the initial cutback, 40 per cent of the $150 million tOO women in 33,000 societies the measure will actually per in revenue loss to local gov throughout the 50 states are mit property taxes to go up ernment , would occur in Mul joining in the observance. at a faster rate without a vote tnomah County. Therefore, Theme of the 1968 service, of the people than the rate of Multnomah C ounty property sponsored by the women’s div growth under the 6 per cent taxpayers would receive 40 per ision of the United Methodist limitation. cent of the relief. By contrast, board of missions, is “Christ, Let me elaborate on these Benton County would receive the Giver of Life.” six points. First, according 1.64 per cent of the total re lief of $150 million that would initially be afforded under this IF YOU BELIEVE IT’S TIME FOR •CONSERVATIVE: • PRACTICAL : •PROGRESSIVE. • OPEN-MINDED: AOI DIRECTOR LISTS FAULTS PROBLEMS Act. Some counties would re ceive no relief at all. This brings us to the third problem—that is revenue re placement and distribution. Since this proposal does not provide for another tax source for local government and since we can’t absorb such a sub stantial loss by economy in government, how are we going to replace the loss? Where are we going to get the money? Proponents argue that we could raise the necessary re venue by increasing the value of property, because it is sub stantially under-assessed? In saying this, they are asserting that the assessors in the State, County Boards that back them up, and the State Tax Com mission that supervises them are not conforming with pre sent laws, which is not, in fact, true. Oregon is regarded throughout the country as the model state in the administra tion of the property tax. The examples proponents use are not valid; they will not hold up under even cursory examin ation. And even if we assume that, in fact, property is sub stantially under-assessed throughout the State--and that we can pick up the difference, the loss under the 1-1/2 per cent limitation, by increasing the value of property, obviously, taxpayers won’t get any proper ty tax relief, because while we would be cutting the tax rate we would also be applying the reduced rate to an increased value. So Oregon taxpayers would wind up with the same tax liability as before. Another curious thing that proponents of the initiative measure have said: that is, that the property tax is this state is driving industry out of Oregon. On the other hand, they say that business property in paritcular, in this State is under-assessed and should be increased. The two are dir ectly contradictory. Others argue that replacing the revenue loss is the leg islature’s job. The legislature can provide the money. This isn’t necessarily so. The pro ponents are forgetting Oregon’s referendum, which the people o f Oregon have used repeat edly to void or defeat legis lature - enacted tax increases in the past. It seems questionable, at least, that the people of Oregon would reverse themselves on this occasion, especially when the tax increase they would have to vote on would have to be very substantial if it were to provide enough revenue to keep local government operating anywhere near the present level. By substantial, I mean an 80 per cent surtax on the State personal income tax or a 4 per cent sales tax. But let’s assume that the people would let the legislature raise taxes sufficiently to make up most of this loss. Where would the legislature get the money? Basically, there are four major sources of revenue. Only two of these could be themselves raise sufficient revenue to do the whole job, Optometrist I DR. JOHN EASLY 18 North Main Street Nyssa, Oregon —Phi XV S— Nyssa................. 372-2949 Ontario . . . 889-8017 Veterinarians TREASURE. VALLEY AN.MAI HOSPITAL Ph<x»e 372-2251 DR. B. E. ROSS Nyssa .... 372-3553 DR. JAMU» REILLY Parma ... 722-784« Don’t Wait Til Winter TO HAVE YOUR FURNACE SERVICED. LET US DO IT NOW AND IT WILL BE READY FOR WINTER. 101 N. FIRST EDER’S NYSSA PH. 372-2266 I