This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2007, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
In the last two years, the assessment value on my property has increased 161 percent. No, that isn't a misprint. A 161 percent increase in two years. At this rate I figure that I can afford to live on my property, if I am very lucky, for perhaps two more years before the increasing assessments force me to sell.
That is why I support a Proposition 13-type amendment to the Utah Constitution. This is not something that we can leave in the hands of "representatives" who only represent those who can afford to donate to their $1000-per-plate fundraisers.
Let's all work together to prevent this type of tax robbery. Utahns unite! Let's pass a grass roots Proposition 13 of our own that will prevent our governing bodies from stripping our bank accounts to the bare bones. And while we're at it, let's put a grass roots ethics reform bill on the ballot.
The legislators are incapable of giving up their little goodies on their own, so let's force the issue. We can make it illegal for them to accept even a meal from lobbyists. They can afford to pay for their own meals. After all, they are supposed to represent the citizens, not those who donate the most to their campaigns.
Randall Yeates
Huntsville