Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1916-10-13
PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE
CONSTITUTION. SENATE JOINT
RESOLUTION NUMBER
EIGHT.

OF the Constitution OF the state of
Atah. relating to revenue and taxa
zion.
he II resolved by tho Legislature OF
The state OF Utah. two-thirds OF all
members elected to each OF the two
houses concufring therein;
Section 1. II Ia proposed to amend
Article 10 ot the Constitution OF tho
state OF Utah, so that the same will
read as follows:
/. The power OF taxation shall never
be surrendered. suspended, or contract
ed away. All taxes shall be uniform
upon the same class OF property within
the territorial limits of the authority
leVying the tax. and shall be levied
and collected for public purposes only.
2. The Legislature shall provide by
law for an annual tax suffc mt. with
other sources of revenue. to defray the
estimated ordinary expenses of the
state for zach fiscal year. For the pur-
pose OF paying the state debt, IL any
there be. the Legislature shall provide
for levying n tax annually, sufficient to
pay the annual interest and principal
OF such debt. within twenty years from
the final passage OF the law creating
the debt.
8 There shall be exempt from tax
alton property OF the United States, OF
the state, counties. cities. towns, school
districts, municipal corporations and
public libraries, lots with the buildings
thereon used exclusively for either re-
ligious worship or charitable purposes,
for private or corporate benefit
bitches, canals. reservoirs, pipes and
fumes owned and used by individuals
or corporations FOR irrigating lands
ations,. or the individual members
thereof. shall not be separately taxed
so long as they shall be owned and
used exclusively for such purposes;
provided, that mortgages upon real and
personal property shall be exempt from
taxation; and that the taxes OF the in
Urgent poor may be RENTED or abat-
may be provided by law.
4. The Legislature shall not i'm
pose taxes for the purpose OF any
county, city, town or other, municipal
corporation. but may. by lthv. vest In
the corporate authorities thereof, re-
spcctively, the power to assess and coll
lect taxes for all purposes of such cor
poration.
s. The surface ground OF all mines
and mining claims, both placer and
rock In place, containing or bearing
gold, silver, copper, lead, iron or other
valuable metals, after purchase there
OF from the United States. shall DO
taxed at value not greater than the
price paid the United states therefor,
unless the surface ground. or some part
thereof. or such mine or claim, liz used
for other than mining purposes. and
mas separate and independent value
Tor such other purposes. In which case
said surface ground. or any part there
poses. shall be taxed at its value for
such other purposes as provided by
law; and all machinery used in min
ing, ana all property and surface i'm
mines and mining claims, which have
"A value separate and Independent OF
such mines or mining claims, shall be
taxed as provided by law. All lands
containing coal granite, stone. marble,
onyx, gas, oil, hydrocarbons gypsums,
or other valuable mineral deposits,
other than those enumerated above In
this section. after purchase thereof
erty and surface improvements upon or
appurtenant to such lands which have
a value separate and Independent OF all
such lands shall be taxed as provided
by law. In addition to the assessment
OF the surface grounds. improvements
and machinery OF mines and mining
claims all mines and mining claims
producing net proceeds shall be taxed
Mt a value not to exceed three times
such net proceeds.
6. An accurate statement of the re.
moneys shall be published annually In
such manner as the Legislature may
provide.
T. The rate OF taxation on property
for State purposes shall never exceed
eight mills on each dollar OF valuation
to be apportioned as follows: Not to
exceed four and one-half mills on each
dollar OF valuation for general State
each dollar OF valuation for district
school purposes; not to exceed one half
mill on each dollar of valuation for
high school purposes; that part OF tho
state tax portioned to high school pur-
poses shall constitute fund to be
called the high school fund" and shall
be apportioned to the cities and school
districts maintaining high schools In
the manner the Legislature may pro-
vide. And whenever the taxable prop
erty within the State shall amount to
Four Hundred Million Dollars, the rate
shall not exceed five mills on each dol
lar OF valuation; unless "A proposition to
such rate, specifying the rate
proposed and the time during which the
same shall be levied. be first submitted
to a vote of such of the qualified cleo
preceding such election, shall have paid
a property tax assessed to them within
the State, and the majority OF those
voting thereon shall vote in favor
In such manner as may be pro-
vided by law.
s. The making OF profit out OF pub
lie moneys. using the same Tor any
purpose not authorized by law, by any
public officer. shall be deemed a fell
ony, and shall be punished as provided
by law, but part OF such punishment
shall be disqualification to hold public
office.
.. No appropriation shall be made,
or any expenditure authorized by the
Legislature. whereby the expenditures
OF the state. during any nscal year,
shall exceed the total tax then pro-
vided for by law. and applicable for
such appropriation or expenditure, un-
less the Legislature making such APP
precipitation, shall provide for leVying
a sufficient tax, not exceeding the rates
allowed In Section of this article, to
pay such appropriation or expenditure
within such fiscal year. This provision
shall not apply TO appropriations or ex-
penditures TO suppress Instructions,
defend the State, or assist in defending
the United states In time OF war.
10. Nothing in this constitution shall
be construed to prevent the Legisla-
ture from providing n stamp tax or a
tax based on income, occupation,
licenses or franchises.
Sec. 2. The Secretary OF State Is
hereby ordered 10 give this proposition
to he published in at least one newspa-
per in every county I'm the State where
a newspaper Is printed and published
for two months preceding the next gem
eral election.
Sec. 3. This proposition shall be
submitted 10 the electors OF this State
at the next general election for their
approval or disapproval. All official
ballots used at such election shall have
printed or written thereon the words
'For the amendment OF Article ~ of
tho Constitution, relating 10 taxation"
Yes NO and shall otherwise be
prepared and submitted to the electors
az may be otherwise provided by law.
and said ballot shall be received, count
ed, and canYassed, and returns thereon