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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 12, 1978)
Page 4 THE BATTALION TUESDAY. SEPTEMBER 12, 1978 PoUfinds inflation, crime fears America gloomy over future United Press International WASHINGTON — Deeply wor ried about inflation, Americans feel they are worse off today than they were five years ago and they believe things are likely to go downhill in the next five years, according to an opinion poll released by the Labor Department Saturday. In a national survey on un employment, government and the American people, Roper Organiza tion interviewers asked a cross sec tion of 2,009 Americans 18 years and over how they felt about the United States- past, present and future. Using a scale of from one to 10, those surveyed ranked the United States at 5.8 five years ago, at only 5.4 today and at 5.3 for the future. The survey said Americans in previous polls have been gloomy about their lives since 1971, but they always seemed to maintain hope for the future. “What is new, however, and alarming is the finding that unlike all previous measures, the public feels things are not going to get any better in the future,” the survey said. “On the whole, the public ap pears to be in a somber frame of mind,” the survey concluded. “The fact that the public does not foresee a recovery in the next five years can be read as an indication of both pes simism and growing realism in ex pectations.” It said heightened fears of a po tential decline in standard of living coupled with increased concern over inflation suggested economic health has a more direct impact on daily life than any other aspect at this time. In an accompanying statement. Labor Secretary Ray Marshall said the survey echoed recent polls in indicating “the American public’s concerns are closely related to economic matters.” “As it has been for the last four years, control of inflation is the major hope of Americans and con tinuing inflation is a major fear,” he said. Thirty percent listed war as one of their greatest fears for the nation but the figure was down from the 37 percent reported in a similar survey two years ago. Other fears were inflation, 26 percent, the same as in 1976; in adequate standard of living, 15 per cent; unemployment, 13 percent; and lack of law and order, 12 per cent. In identifying problems facing the nation, 61 percent of those polled listed inflation and the high cost of living, 46 percent listed crime and lawlessness, 38 percent listed the tax burden on the working Ameri can, 29 percent listed rising costs of hospital and health care, and 27 percent listed unemployment. Interviews were done by the Roper Organization between June 16 and June 24, right after passage of tax-cutting Proposition 13 by California voters. but you can make a start... ... in VISTA SIGN UP NOW FOR INTERVIEW CAREER PLANNING & PLACEMENT RUDDER TOWER - 10TH FLOOR PEACE CORPS & VISTA REPS ON CAMPUS SEPTEMBER 18 & 19 PUBLIC NOTICE SUMMARY OF PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS GENERAL ELECTION NOV. 7, 1978 ik Tiie Tax Relief Amend ment” (H.J.R. 1) H.J.R. 1 proposes an amcnilnif'nt to the Texas Constitution allowing 1 the legislature to exempt in tangible personal prop erty, requiring the legis lature to exempt certain household goods and per sonal effects, and allow ing the legislature to exempt all or part of the personal property home stead from state and local property taxation. The amendment re quires the legislature to provide for the taxation of farm and ranch land on the basis of its produc tive capacity instead of its market value and al lows the legislature to provide for the taxation of timber land on its pro ductive capacity. The amendment per mits local governments to extend the present exemp tion of not less than $3,000 of the residence homestead of persons 65 and older to include cer tain disabled persons. The amendment grants an exemption from public school property taxes of $5,000 of the market value of the residence home stead. It authorizes the legislature to grant an additional exemption from public school property taxes of an amount not to exceed $10,000 of the market value of the resi dence homesteads of per sons 65 years of age or older and certain disabled persons. If a person 65 years of age or older qualifies for this exemp tion, the total amount of public school taxes im posed on that person’s homestead may not be in creased. The amendment pre vents local governments from increasing property taxes unless the govern ing body provides public notice and conducts a public hearing. The amendment requires the legislature to provide by law for each property owner to receive notice of the revaluation of his property and the amount taxes will be increased. The amendment limits appropriations from state tax revenue to an amount not to exceed Texas’ esti mated economic growth rate, with the legislature authorized to make excep tions for emergencies. The amendment pro hibits the statewide ap praisal of real property for property tax pur poses. Enforcement of uniform standards and proceduies- for appraisal of property for property tax purposes is required to originate in the taxing authority where the prop erty tax is imposed. The wording of the proposed amendment as it will appear on the bal lot is as follows: "The constitutional amendment providing for tax relief for residential homesteads, elderly per sons, disabled persons, and agricultural land; for personal property exemp tions ; for truth in taxa tion procedures, including citizen involvement; for a redefinition of the tax base; for limitations on state spending; and for property tax administra tion.” NUMBER ONE (S.J.R. 50) S.J.R. 50 proposes an amendment to the Texas Constitution to delete an archaic reference to the "Deaf and Dumb Asy lum.” The amendment would allow the State of Texas to purchase prod ucts and services done by handicapped individuals in nonprofit rehabilita tion facilities without complying with bid re quirements applicable to other state contracts. The amendment also would eliminate the formality of the approval of certain state contracts by the Governor, the Secretary of State and the Comp troller of Public Ac counts. The wording of the pro posed amendment as it will appear on the ballot is as follows: "The constitutional amendment deleting the archaic reference to the ‘Deaf and Dumb Asylum,’ allowing certain products and services of handi capped individuals to be used by agencies and de partments of state gov ernment, requiring the procurement of other products and services re quired in the operation of state government to be made under bids awarded to the lowest responsible bidder, making all such procurement processes subject to laws enacted by the legislature, and eliminating the require ment that the Governor, the Secretary of State, and the Comptroller of Public Accounts of Texas be personally involved with such transactions.” NUMBER TWO (S.J.R. 55) S.J.R. 55 proposes an amendment to the Texas Constitution to permit local governments to issue bonds for the reconstruc tion or acquisition of fa cilities (land, equipment and improvements) de signed to develop employ ment opportunities. These bonds would be payable solely from the revenue from the sale or lease of these facilities. The build ing or acquisition of such facilities must be deter mined by the local gov ernment to be necessary to develop employment opportunities. The wording of the pro posed amendment as it will appear on the ballot is as follows: “The constitutional amendment to provide that the legislature may permit political subdivi sions to issue revenue bonds to develop employ ment opportunities for its citizens.” NUMBER THREE (S.J.R. 44) S.J.R. 44 proposes an amendment to the Texas Constitution which would allow the legislature to authorize cities and towns to issue tax increment bonds to finance the re development of blighted areas. The bonds are to be paid solely from reve nue from municipal tax increments. Payment can not be made from the revenue of municipal taxes, utilities, or other services. The wording of the pro posed amendment as it will appear on the ballot is as follows: "The constitutional amendment to give the legislature the power to authorize cities and towns to issue bonds to finance the redevelopment of blighted areas and pro hibiting any city or town from granting its money or lending its credit for such purposes.” NUMBER FOUR (S.J.R. 53) S.J.R. 53 proposes an amendment to the Texas Constitution to allow the legislature to exempt from taxation solar or wind- powered energy devices. The wording of the pro posed amendment as it will appear on the ballot is as follows: “The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to exempt from taxation solar and wind-powei’ed energy de vices.” NUMBER FIVE (H.J.R. 37) H.J.R. 37 proposes an amendment to the Texas Constitution to grant ex clusive jurisdiction to justices of the peace in civil cases where the amount in controversy does not exceed $200, ex cept where the legislature gives exclusive jurisdic tion to another court. The amendment grants justices of the peace con current jurisdiction with county courts where the amount in controversy is between $200 and $500, except where the legisla ture gives the county court exclusive jurisdic tion. The amendment also grants justices of the peace concurrent jurisdic tion with both county and district courts where the amount in controversy is between $500 and $1,000, except where the legisla ture gives the county or district court exclusive jurisdiction. The wording of the pro posed amendment as it will appear on the ballot is as follows: "The constitutional amendment to extend the jurisdiction of justices of the peace in civil cases.” NUMBER SIX (S.J.R. 45) S.J.R. 45 proposes an amendment to the Texas Constitution to allow the legislature to expand the number of judges on any court of civil appeals. Presently courts of civil appeals are limited to a chief justice and two as sociate justices. The amendment also would al low the courts to sit in sections, with the concur rence of a majority of the judges sitting in the sec tion necessary to decide a case. The wording of the pro- Xiosed amendment as it will appear on the ballot is as follows: “The constitutional amendment permitting the legislature to increase the number of justices on a court of civil appeals, permitting a court of civil appeals to sit in sections, and requiring a concur rence of a majority of justices to decide a case.” NUMBER SEVEN (S.J.R. 48) S.J.R. 48 proposes an amendment to the Texas Constitution eliminating the State Building Com mission and the State Building Fund. The au thority of the State Build ing Commission has been transferred by law to the State Board of Control. The wording of the pro posed amendment as it will appear on the ballot is as follows: “The constitutional amendment to repeal the constitutional authority for the State Building Commission and the State Building Fund.” NUMBER EIGHT (H.J.R. 42) H.J.R. 42 proposes an amendment to the Texas Constitution allowing cer tain political subdivisions or districts in the state that can presently issue bonds or other indebted ness or otherwise lend its credit to engage in fire fighting activities and to issue bonds or otherwise lend its credit to support such activities. The wording of the pro posed amendment as it will appear on the ballot is as follows: “The constitutional amendments authorizing certain districts to engage in fire-fighting activities and to issue bonds or other indebtedness or to issue bonds or otherwise lend their credit for fire fighting purposes.” It must be a popular song W illiam “Binky” Carr tickles the keys of the piano in the Memorial Student Center lounge as Sherry Bailey and Paula Murphy Battalion photo by Ed jrust oi Consol studies bilingual project I what !Title ? B mai By STEVE LEE Battalion Reporter The opening days of the 1978-79 school year at all A&M Consolidated campuses were “very smooth, ac cording to Superintendent Fred I lopson. Hopson made the report to the Board of Education of the A&M Consolidated Independent School District at a scheduled meeting Monday evening in the Special Ser vices Iniilding. The opening of school this year was the smoothest that I have ever been involved with, said Hopson. “The community has responded very well. ’ Enrollment figures presented at the meeting showed a school district total of 3,507 students, an increase of 178 students over last year. This 5 percent increase is the same rate of growth that the district has shown over the last two years, the figures show. Hopson also addressed the board oil special language programs for children of "limited English speak ing ability (LESA). Students in this category are those whose primary language spoken at home is one other than English. During the summer, th State Board of Education had adopted new policies requiring a bilingual program if any LESA children are identified, regardless of number. Previously, school districts were re quired to provide the program if at least 20 students in one grade level, grades kindergarten through three, were identified. In addition, full bilingual prog rams iU'e to l>e provided for grades kindergarten through five, with 'English development programs" implemented in grades six through twelve. Pending further information from the Texas Education Agency, the board will delay any action in the bilingual program. Board member Rodney C. Hill reported that with a 5 percent roide growth rate in the schools the enrollment cot r » crease to a projected 568 if M j over the “optimum bytheffi school year. The optimum tel schools is set at 600 student I gure that is already surpassedl With these projections I suggested the possibility ofa| bond issue in the spring anil liminary "schematics’ froal chitects. In other business, the Budget for 1977-78 was along with recommendatio tion and fees and the C vclopment Center audit. BISD tax rate rolled bat".;’;; 1 the the sh By ROY BRAGG Battalion reporter The Bryan School Board voted unanimously last night to accept the findings of the Board of Equalization and rolled back the tax rate 8.5 cents from last year’s $1.41 per $100 as sessed market value. The assess ment ratio will continue to In* 80 percent of the actual market value. According to the Board of Equali zation s rejiort, there is approxi mately $489 million worth of tangi ble projierty in Bryan, $383 million of which is taxable under the cur rent assessment ratio. BUFFET SPECIALS ENJOY ALL THE PIZZA (thick or thin crust), SPAGHETTI, AND SALAD YOU CAN EAT FOR ONLY $2.19. NOON BUFFET Mon.-Fri. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. TUESDAY NIGHT BUFFET Every Tuesday Night 6:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Pizza inn 413 Texas Ave. (Across from Ramada Inn) 846-6164 1803 Greenfield Plaza (Next to Bryan High) 846-1784 OPENING SOON! The board was formed evaluate the revenue situa the school district after the tion of the district and city earlier this year. The school Innird approve hoc advisory committee I bilingual education prograi committee will serveasaliai tween the public and thesdi trict. The bilingual program isd to aid students who are un perform at satisfactory clai levels due to languange dfai A series of tests is given toi/i who show a need for (kprvgi Students receive the bdi ing based on the results. Parental consent is required fore any of the tests can hep] The board also heard arepoit the acquisition of the old First and Trust property in do«rt Bryan. The huilding is undei renovation and will be used school district tax office. No was given for completion ol work. fire Bons( fharged notorca Nixon dela Thailand tr A Real Bookstore/A New Bookstore Jim King, Bookseller Woodstone Center 909 Harvey Rd. (Highway 30) Selections on Film, Literature, Contemporary Culture, Architecture, Women’s Studies and others. United Press Inlcrnalioiui B \\< . k< >k Ihailand I | President Nixon has has post a planned visit to Thailand wl setting a new date for the tii| Foreign Mini stry spokesman today. Nixon planned a stopover in land on his way to and from stralia and Foreign Ministryof were already at work on hisitin when a cable from Nixon am M onday postponing the trip spokesman said. I le said the cable did notindii the Nixon visit was canceled pletely hut said it was postp* and no new date had been set The Thai government wi welcomed Nixon, the spoken said and insisted the postpom was not caused by any action In Thai government. GO FOR m