Mostly about Utah
A few photographs from the Kaysville and Fruit Heights Independence Day Parade. Click on the images to enlarge.
Command Chief Ogden Air Logistic Center Chief Master Sgt. David Nordel
Bryson and Sarah watch the parade
Rachel and Jake
Steve Hiatt, Kaysville City Mayor, throws candy
Fruit Heights City Mayor, Todd Stevenson
Bryson watches the parade
There was a helicopter candy drop immediately following the parade
Near the end of the parade the water fight began
UPDATE – Effective July 1, 2010 the Utah tax rate became $1.70/pack. There is an inventory tax equal to the difference between the old tax rates and the new. The owner of Lotty’s in Evanston said, “They’ll get in their car and come up for the weekend and stock up on porn and beer and cigarettes.” A spokesman for the Tobacco Prevention and Control Program said, “They don’t understand the psychology of a smoker. Smokers don’t travel to buy their cigarettes. They go to the corner market. It’s probably habit more than anything.”
A Utah legislative house committee has proposed H.B. 196 to raise the Utah cigarette tax from 69.5 cents to $1.70 a pack. This will raise $22,500,000 in fiscal year 2011 and by $23,000,000 in 2012. The fiscal year begins July 1st.
1. Smokers are not likely to quit because of a tax increase.
This argument misses the point. Whether or not it is stated, the primary objective of the cigarette tax is to raise revenue, which it will.
2. Smokers will purchase tobacco products in neighboring states or online.
This is worth considering. A round trip from Salt Lake City to Evanston is 167 miles. The cost of driving is an average of 54 cents a mile. Hence the transportation cost of a bootlegging expedition would look something like this:
167 miles X .54 dollars = $90.18
The proposed $1.10 tax difference ($1.70 Utah tax – $0.60 Wyoming tax) is not looking so bad after all.
So what about buying over the Internet, the great equalizer? I might ask why haven’t Utah smokers embraced Internet buying to avoid the current 69.5 cents tax? Could it be because of:
- State age verification laws
- The federal Jenkins Act, which requires that such sales be reported to state authorities
- State laws prohibiting or regulating the direct shipment of cigarettes to consumers
- State and federal tax laws
- Federal mail and wire fraud statutes
- The federal RICO law. Many of the sales made by foreign websites also violate federal smuggling, cigarette labeling, money laundering and contraband product laws.
3. Smoking is legal so should not be targeted.
Cars are legal too yet they are taxed heavily. Yet non-car owners reap a subsidy every time they ride public transportation. Why is this so? Because it is perceived that less cars on the road = good. Similarly less smokers = good. Get it? Good.
1. It will help offset the cost of illnesses and diseases related to smoking.
Indeed it will. Costs paid by government to treat lung cancer, emphysema, bronchitis, and heart disease are borne by all. Hence taxes collected from smokers will offset these expenses either directly or indirectly. The adverse health effects from cigarette smoking account for an estimated 443,000 deaths, or nearly 1 of every 5 deaths, each year in the United States.
2. The tax is higher in many other states.
It is. As mentioned, the Utah cigarette tax rate is 69.5 cents a pack, ranked at 36th in the U.S. If the tax is raised to $1.70, Utah will tie with Montana for 17th place.
Around the country we find that first place goes to Rhode Island at $3.46 followed by Connecticut at $3.00 and New York at $2.75.
49th place goes to Virginia at 30 cents followed by Missouri at 17 cents and South Carolina at 7 cents.
The average is $1.34 a pack. These rates do not include local cigarette taxes, sales taxes, or the federal $1.01 tax. For example, New York City has a $1.50 per pack tax in addition to the New York State tax of $2.75. The 8.875% New York City sales tax is also applied to the state cigarette tax.
The six states bordering Utah have these rates per pack:
- Arizona — $2.00
- Colorado — 84 cents
- Idaho — 57 cents
- Neveda — 80 cents
- New Mexico — 91 cents
- Wyoming — 60 cents
As you can see, only Idaho and Wyoming have lower rates — and not by much.
3. Increasing the cost helps deter youth smoking.
Tax policy is used in multiple areas to encourage and discourage “good” and “bad” behavior. Consider the mortgage interest deduction, child tax credit, and the alternative fuels credit. Smoking is considered “bad” hence it is taxed heavily. Even some things that are “good”, like my income, are taxed heavily. However I do not believe that the cost of cigarettes is a deterrent to youth smoking but increased taxes could be used in anti-smoking campaigns.
You can probably come up with more reasons for or against a cigarette tax increase.
This appears to me to be a good bill. If it were me I would raise the tax by 50.5 cents the first year and 50 cents the second year. I wouldn’t pretend the tax was anything other than a revenue raising device. If smokers quit it will save the state from expensive health costs. If not, then additional monies are contributed to said health expenses.
I do not believe many smokers will go elsewhere to feed their habit. However, time will tell on this.
As a non-smoker I have published here what I have casually researched. If any readers have additionally information or experiences, please share.
Tobacco Tax Source: Campaign for Tobacco Free-Kids. Also there may be a benefit to a tax increase for your state.
To preserve posts from a blog I closed down I have ported them to Rickety. So please enjoy a 4th July parade in January.
Displaying the U.S. and Utah flags at the West Bountiful City Independence Parade
Last year I went with family to watch the West Bountiful City Independence Parade. The theme was Our Heritage Past and Present. There were 60 entries but it didn’t take very long for the parade to pass by. It was cold enough in the shade that my wife and brother-in-law moved out of the shade and into the sun. Last year I posted photographs but this year I will show you a sampling of the parade in video. The nine videos run an average of 12 seconds each.
Take a look at the car in my driveway. It appears to be just a plain 2005 Honda Civic. I purchased it last Friday to help me drive down the cost of transportation. With only V6 engines in my other vehicles I decided to make a change, ready for higher gas prices next summer.
How much cheaper is this Civic for me to drive? Well this is Utah and this Civic is a Natural Gas Vehicle (NGV). With Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) at a subsidized 93 cents GGE throughout the state I really am driving on the cheap.
Natural Gas Vehicle
These advantages potentially affect me directly or indirectly economically:
These advantages affect the community directly or indirectly:
I test drove and filled a Cavalier.
Me by a CNG pump,
I filled up for the first time last night. It was straight-forward though a little different. The pump was the old style non-digital readout type (not the one pictured). The car gas gauge (interesting that it is still called a gas gauge) was reading 1/4 left. It cost $4.56 to fill and took about the same time as filling a gasoline tank with the same amount of fuel. That is probably enough for about 150 miles. I expect to get 200 miles out of a tank. If there is interest I will post my mileage and CNG use in a future post. I’m used to larger cars but this Civic surprised me with quite some zip. It was a gas to drive.
If you are interested in a used CNG car yourself, check out the CNG Utah website where I purchased my Honda. The folks there were low pressure and friendly. Perhaps you already own a CNG powered vehicle. How do you like it? What have been your savings? Would you purchase another CNG?
By now you may have figured out that my purchase of this CNG Civic was purely economic. As far as the environment is concerned I am against Cap and Trade. The threat from CO2 (plant food) has been greatly overstated. The earth has enough and to spare. Just relax and use the resources God has given you and go out into the world with a little less fear and trembling. You will do just fine in your stewardship despite what Al Gore says.
14 Dec 2011 — There is now a CNG station right in my hometown.
1 Jan 2012 — Without the 50 cent a gallon federal subsidy the price has risen to $1.50/gge in Utah.
Brigham City Utah Temple Artist's Conception
While eating dinner at Lone Star Steakhouse last night with family and friends we wondered what the new Brigham City temple will look like. One of the party suggested that we create our own artist’s conception and post it on the blog. I received in my email today the results you see above.
The term artist is applied loosely here — very loosely. It may be wise not to reveal the identity of this budding Greg Olsen. Not to be picky but the temple is facing the wrong way. Isn’t it supposed to face the Brigham City tabernacle? It appears that the temple will have a very small steeple but perhaps it is that way so as to fit in the photograph. I am glad that there will be an Angel Moroni but to be almost as tall as the steeple — that is a lot of gold leaf.
Perhaps to save on the cost the original parking lot from a prior development is to be left intact. But that won’t accommodate many patrons unless only sealings are performed. It is nice that there will be some trees planted but the electrical boxes will have to go. The temple looks like it will have an exterior of stucco. I don’t recall that material being used before. The many large windows indicate that more natural light than usual will be utilized. The box shape will help with energy efficiency. Or maybe it symbolizes Box Elder. Who knows what was on this artist’s mind?
We all appreciate (in varying degrees, mostly small) the efforts of our artist but if you have something better please send it in and I will post it.
Brigham City Utah Temple lot
The announcement of the Brigham City Utah Temple was made by LDS Church President Thomas S. Monson at the opening of the 179th Semiannual General Conference of the church in Salt Lake City on 3 October 2009.
We continue to build temples. We desire that as many members as possible have an opportunity to attend the temple without having to travel inordinate distances. Worldwide, 83 percent of our members live within 200 miles of a temple. That percentage will continue to increase as we construct new temples around the world.
The Brigham City temple will be the 14th in Utah. The announcement of a new temple underscores the expected population and business growth many expect Box Elder County to enjoy. There are new businesses in the county and many new homes are expected in the future.
On October 26, 2009, Church officials announced that the temple and tabernacle will be face-to-face across Main Street on a city block known as Central Square that once was home to Central Elementary School. The temple will be built on the property at 250 S. Main St., directly west of and across the street from the church’s Brigham City Tabernacle at 251 S. Main. The block is bordered in both directions along Main Street by retail businesses and to the west by private residences.
The Brigham City Utah Temple District will be formed from stakes currently belonging to the Ogden Utah Temple District and the Logan Utah Temple District. No completion date has been announced, nor have any plans about the design or size.
In the photograph you can see the Brigham City tabernacle through the trees. Main Street is between the tabernacle and the grassless vacant land where the new temple will be built. The grass and the paved area are also part of the temple lot.
I hope to post more photographs as work progresses.
Photo Credit: Susan Ward
Jill early voting in the Kaysville City elections
This information is for 2009. Do not rely on the information here but use Vote Utah.
I am accustomed to voting early. I don’t feel as rushed because I can pick a day and time that better suits my schedule. Today my wife and I went to Kaysville City town hall to early vote at 2:30 pm. and found there was no waiting. If you wish to early vote then you are too late — today was the last day.
However, there is still the election on Tuesday and I can direct you to information that may be helpful.
Find election dates, your candiates, registration and voting information
A lot of voting information is located at Leave Your Print. If all you need is to know where to go to vote, wander on over to the Voter Information Website. Enter you name, birth date, county, and house number and your polling place will be shown. The site will also tell you with which party (if any) you are affiliated. A sample ballot is available tailored to your city. Here is where I would go to vote on Tuesday if I hadn’t voted already:
A quick way to find your party affiliation, voting location, and personalized ballot.
The personalized sample ballot is a great help in knowing who is on the ballot. I don’t like to be surprised when I get to the polling booth. My Kaysville City ballot looks like this.
Cities in Davis County will cast votes for mayors and city council members Tuesday 3rd November. Generally one mayor and two council members will be elected. Candidates currently on the ballots include:
Bountiful
Mayor
City Council
Centerville
Mayor
City Council
Clearfield
Mayor
City Council
Clinton
Mayor
City Council
Farmington
Mayor
City Council
Fruit Heights
Mayor
City Council
Kaysville
Mayor
City Council
Layton
Mayor
Council
North Salt Lake
Mayor
City Council
South Weber
Mayor
City Council
Sunset
Mayor
City Council
Syracuse
Mayor
City Council
West Bountiful
Mayor
City Council
West Point
Mayor
City Council
Woods Cross
Mayor
City Council
There is only one bond and if you guessed it was for education you would be right. Seems like there is always a bond for education. The controversy this time around is about whether your taxes will increase or not. The school district claims it is not a true tax increase because an equivalent amount of debt is being paid off. So let’s put it another way: your taxes will decrease if the bond is rejected.
This is the text of the Ballot Proposition:
Official Ballot Proposition for Davis School District, UtahSpecial Bond Election
November 3, 2009
Bruce D. Williams
Business Administrator
PROPOSITION
Shall the Board of Eduction (the “Board”) of Davis School District, Utah (the “District”), be authorized to issue general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed Two Hundred Fifty Million Dollars ($250,000,000) (the “Bonds”) for the purpose of defraying all or a portion of the costs of new school construction, land acquisition, equipment acquisition, and renovation and improvement of existing school facilities, and for payment of expenses reasonably incurred in connection with the acquisition and construction of said improvements and the authorization and issuance of the Bonds; said Bonds to be due and payable in not to exceed twenty-one (21) years from the date of the Bonds?NOTICE OF PROPERTY TAX INCREASE DUE TO BOND ISSUANCE
Passage of this Proposition means that the tax on a $252,000 residence within the District would increase by $156.93 per year.
The tax on a $252,000 business within the District would increase by $285.33 per year.
However, the Board expects to issue the bonds in such a manner that no increase in the current tax rate for debt service will occur. If the bonds are approved and sold, the current tax rate will continue for more years than if the bonds are not approved.
The foregoing information is only an estimate of tax increases and is not a limit on the amount of taxes that the Board may be required to levy in order to pay debt service on the Bonds. The Board will be obligated to levy taxes without limitation as to rate or amount in order to pay the Bonds, as provided by law. The amounts are based on various assumptions and estimates, including estimated debt service on the Bonds and taxable values of property in the District.
FOR THE ISSUANCE OF BONDS
AGAINST THE ISSUANCE OF BONDS
General Conference. Photo Credit: LDS Newsroom
Utah is the most populous state for Mormons in terms of membership (1,823,613) and percentage of the population (68.94%). Utah also has the most stakes (523) and temples (14). Utah is in a three-way tie with Florida and Washington for third place in missions (5).
The table below allows one to compare the Utah membership with other states and to follow the links for additional information.
When the first company of Latter-day Saint pioneers began to journey westward, they did not know their end destination. But on 24 July 1847, when the wagons rolled out of the canyon into the Salt Lake Valley, their destination became apparent. “It is enough,” Church President Brigham Young said as he viewed the valley below. “This is the right place. Drive on.” Young named the area “Deseret,” meaning honeybee, signifying the hive of activity that would soon inhabit the area. The President stayed only 33 days before returning to Winter Quarters in Nebraska to assist other families on their trek. At least 236 pioneer companies of approximately 60,000 pioneers crossed the plains for Utah. With time, they transformed the desert valley into the bustling and prosperous Salt Lake City. (Source: LDS Newsroom)
There is a more recent update of this table at U.S. LDS Membership.
Click on the column headers to sort.
| State | Members | % LDS | Stakes | Wards | Missions | Temples |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 33,404 | 0.72 | 6 | 41 | 1 | 1 |
| Alaska | 29,460 | 4.31 | 7 | 48 | 1 | 1 |
| Arizona1 | 368,417 | 5.81 | 86 | 677 | 4 | 5 |
| Arkansas | 25,296 | 0.89 | 5 | 32 | 1 | 0 |
| California | 749,490 | 2.05 | 159 | 1,195 | 17 | 7 |
| Colorado | 133,727 | 2.75 | 30 | 253 | 3 | 1 |
| Connecticut | 14,338 | 0.41 | 4 | 27 | 1 | 0 |
| Delaware | 4,585 | 0.53 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| District of Columbia | 2,166 | 0.37 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Florida5 | 129,238 | 0.71 | 25 | 183 | 5 | 2 |
| Georgia | 72,760 | 0.76 | 16 | 105 | 3 | 1 |
| Hawaii | 67,106 | 5.23 | 15 | 120 | 1 | 2 |
| Idaho | 399,427 | 26.64 | 115 | 936 | 2 | 4 |
| Illinois | 54,424 | 0.42 | 12 | 91 | 4 | 2 |
| Indiana | 40,139 | 0.63 | 11 | 68 | 1 | 0 |
| Iowa | 23,301 | 0.78 | 7 | 36 | 1 | 0 |
| Kansas | 32,116 | 1.16 | 7 | 52 | 0 | 0 |
| Kentucky | 30,498 | 0.72 | 6 | 40 | 1 | 1 |
| Louisiana | 27,119 | 0.63 | 6 | 31 | 1 | 1 |
| Maine | 10,160 | 0.77 | 2 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| Maryland | 38,850 | 0.69 | 8 | 66 | 2 | 1 |
| Massachusetts | 24,114 | 0.37 | 4 | 38 | 1 | 1 |
| Michigan | 42,422 | 0.42 | 8 | 65 | 2 | 1 |
| Minnesota | 29,550 | 0.57 | 7 | 52 | 1 | 1 |
| Mississippi | 20,377 | 0.70 | 4 | 28 | 1 | 0 |
| Missouri2 | 62,217 | 1.06 | 14 | 104 | 2 | 2 |
| Montana | 44,976 | 4.70 | 11 | 77 | 1 | 1 |
| Nebraska | 21,890 | 1.23 | 4 | 40 | 1 | 1 |
| Nevada | 172,330 | 6.72 | 33 | 291 | 2 | 2 |
| New Hampshire | 8,091 | 0.61 | 3 | 16 | 1 | 0 |
| New Jersey | 30,280 | 0.35 | 5 | 35 | 2 | 0 |
| New Mexico | 63,987 | 3.25 | 14 | 89 | 1 | 1 |
| New York | 74,004 | 0.38 | 14 | 83 | 4 | 2 |
| North Carolina | 71,737 | 0.79 | 15 | 102 | 2 | 1 |
| North Dakota | 6,005 | 0.94 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 1 |
| Ohio | 56,492 | 0.49 | 13 | 91 | 3 | 1 |
| Oklahoma | 40,683 | 1.12 | 7 | 57 | 2 | 1 |
| Oregon | 144,808 | 3.86 | 36 | 255 | 2 | 2 |
| Pennsylvania3 | 47,832 | 0.38 | 10 | 74 | 3 | 1 |
| Rhode Island | 3,608 | 0.34 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| South Carolina | 36,141 | 0.82 | 6 | 46 | 1 | 1 |
| South Dakota | 9,397 | 1.18 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| Tennessee | 42,102 | 0.68 | 10 | 65 | 2 | 2 |
| Texas | 269,670 | 1.13 | 49 | 413 | 8 | 4 |
| Utah4 | 1,823,613 | 68.94 | 523 | 4,296 | 5 | 14 |
| Vermont | 4,302 | 0.69 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Virginia | 83,225 | 1.08 | 19 | 144 | 2 | 0 |
| Washington | 253,166 | 3.91 | 54 | 440 | 5 | 3 |
| West Virginia | 16,491 | 0.91 | 4 | 24 | 1 | 0 |
| Wisconsin | 23,907 | 0.43 | 6 | 41 | 1 | 0 |
| Wyoming | 59,970 | 11.47 | 16 | 131 | 0 | 0 |
| United States | 5,873,408 | 1.95 | 1,422 | 11,151 | 106 | 72 |
1. Gilbert Arizona and Phoenix Arizona Temples announced. Gila Valley Arizona Temple under construction.
2. Kansas City Missouri Temple announced.
3. Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple announced.
4. Brigham City Utah Temple announced.
5. Fort Lauderdale Florida Temple announced.
Membership as of 31 December 2007. Temple information is current. Source: Deseret News 2009 Church Almanac and U.S. Census Bureau National and State population estimates.
Jake and Paul outside Little Taste of Britain
A few month ago I ate with three of my sons and my daughter-in-law. We descended on Little Taste of Britain in Layton (1095 N. Main). I was born and raised in England, emigrating to the United States at age 28 where I settled down and raised a family. So I was ready for fish and chips with mushy peas and maybe a drink of Vimto. The meal didn’t disappoint, the fish and chips were authentic — the large fillet of cod was battered and a deep-fried golden.
Little Taste of Britain is run by Nick and Mandy Island. There is also a small market filled with British specialty items — everything from steak and kidney pies, bangers, English candy, and lots of other British imports. One customer drove all the way from Wendover just to try their fish and chips — and he wasn’t disappointed.
Little Taste of Britain can be reached at (801) 543-5707. Fish and chips will run you $7.95 and I recommend adding mushy peas for $1.00. There are many other items on the menu.
