Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1916-09-22
PROPOSED AMENDMENT To THE
CONSTITUTION. SENATE JOINT
RESOLUTION NUMBER
EIGHT.


Utah. relating to revenue and taxa
tion.
BE IL resolved by the Legislature OF
the state OF Utah two-thirds of all
members elected to each OF the two
houses concurring therein:
Section /. 1t is proposed to amend
Article 10 Of the Constitution Of the
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 he 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.
q The Legislature sh, provide by
law for an annual tax sufficient with
other sources OF revenue. to defray the
estimated ordinary expenses OF the
state for each fiscal year. For the pur-
pose Of paying the state debt, II any
there be, the Legislature shall provide
for levying "A 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.
3. There shall I've 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,
and places of burial not held or used
for private or corporate benefit
bitches, canals reservoirs. pipes and
fumes owned and used by individuals
or corporations for irrigating lands
owned by such individuals, or corpor-
ations or the individual members
thereof. shall not be separately taxed
so long rs they shall be owned and
used exclusively for such purpos es;
provided, that mortgages upon real and
personal property shall be exempt from
taxation; and that the taxes of the In
digent poor may be RENTED or abat-
ed al such time and in such manner as
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 lsv, vest In
the corporate authorities thereof re-
spectively. the power to assess and col
lect taxes for all purposes of such cor
pOratiOn.
g. 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 he
taxed at value not greater than the
price paid the United states therefor
unless the surface ground, or some part
thereof. Of such mine or claim, Is used
for other than mining purposes, and
has n separate and Independent value
for such other purposes, In which case
said surface ground, or any part there
of, so used for other than mining pur-
poses, shall be taxed at its value for
such other purposes as provided by
law; and all machinery used in min
ing. and all property and surface I'M
prOvements upon or appurtcnant TO
mines and mining claims, which have
value separate and INDEPENDENT or
such mines or mining claims, shall ne
taxed as provided by law. All lands
containing coal granite, stone, marble.
onyx, gas. oil, hydrocarbons, gypsums,
or other valuable mineral depos u.s.
other than those enumerated above in
this section, after purchase thereof
from the United states and all prop
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. Improvement
and machinery OF mines and mining
claims, all mines and mining claims
producing net proceeds shall be taxed
at a value not to exceed three tunes
such net proceeds.
g. An accurate statement OF the re-
ceipts and expenditures of the public
moneys shall be published annually In
such manner as the Legislature may
provide.
Z. 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 10
exceed four and one-half mills on each
dollar of valuation for general state
purposes; not to exceed three mills OF
each dollar OF valuation for district
school purposes: not to exceed one-hali
mill on each dollar OF valuation foi
high school purposes; that part OF the
State tax portioned to high school pur.
poses shall constitute fund to be
called the high school fund" and shall
be appurtiOned to the cities and school
districts maintaining high schools II
the manner the Legislature may pro
vide. Ard whenever the taxable prop
erty within the State shall amount e
Four Hundred Million Dollars, the rate
shall not exceed five mills on each dol
lar Of valuation; unless II proposition Il
Increase such rate, specifying the rate
proposed and the time during which the
same shall be levied. be first submitted
TO vote of such of the qualified cleo
tors of the state as, In the year mex
preceding such election, shall nave pal'
a property tax assessed to them within
the State, and the majority OF thos'
voting thereon shalt vote In favo
thereof, in such manner as may be pro
Vided by law.
lie moneys, using the same tor an!
purpose not authorized by law, by an!
public officer shall be deemed n fel
ony. and shall be punished as provided
by law, but part of such punishment
shall be disqualification to hold publ
office.
O. No appropriation shall he made
or any expenditure authorized by tn
Legislature, whereby the expenditure
of the state. during any fiscal year
shall exceed the total tax then pro
vided for by law, and applicable 70
such appropriation or expenditure. un
less the Legislature making such APP
preparation, shall provide for leVyini
n sufficient tax, not exceeding the rate
allowed In Section of this article, T.
pay such appropriation or eNpenditur
within such fiscal year. This provision
shall not apply TO appropriations or ex
pendituros to suppress insurrectlons
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 a stamp tax, or
tax based on income, occupation
licenses or franchises.
Sec. 2. The Secretary Of state
hereby ordered to give this propostio
20 be published in at least one newspa
per in every county in the state wher
newspaper Is printed and publshe
for two months preceding the next gen
eral election.
Sec. g. This proposition shall b
submitted to the electors of this Stat
at the next general election for thel
approval or disapproval All ofhcia
ballots used at such election shall hav
printed or written thereon the words
"For the amendment OF Article IS o
the Constitution. relating to taxation.
yes" NO and shall otherwise
prepared and submitted 10 the elector
as may be otherwise provided by Law
and said ballot shall be received, count
ed, and canvassed. and returns thereo
Learned SomethIno