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Mass Transit Vote Nov. 8

Click to see original imageCitizens in Provoand Orem will vote, in connection with the Nov, 8 municipal election, on a proposition of whether a mass transit district should be organized for the two communities. Officials of the two cities decided, at a public hearing Oct. ;, to put the proposition on the balot. Later, on Oct. 13, Provo City commissioners added a second question for the citizenry of this city to decide: Should the sales tax be increased by onequarter percent in the city to help fund a mass transit system? Orem presumeably would have to decide on a similar proposition before such a source of revenue could become operative in the two cities. To recap, on Nov. 8 in both Provo and Orem, citizens will be able to vote “yes” or “no” for creation of a transit district, and in Provo only, they’ll also vote “yes” or “no” on funding a system by increasing the sales tax. Unfortunately, with the election only 2’/: weeks away, there isn’t much time for the electorate in the two communities to really “cram for the exam” of voting on the issue – which suggests the need for quick initiative if the average voter is to become informed. Individual effort to become knowledgable on the aspects of the proposition seems especially vital since no organizations have stepped forward to openly campaign for or against. Carl Johnson, trans rtation planner for Mountainlgihd Association of Govemments, outlined transit systems proposals being studied at the Oct. 4 hearing, but the various alternatives are not a specific question -for the November ballot. If the voters approve the transit district, a board of directors will be appointed, whose duties will be to consider the various transit systems, buses to purchase, routes and fares, funding problems, seeking available subsidies, etc. The Herald will hegin early next week a series of articles to help acquaint readers with the facts on mass transit proposition and the gggcific as they are being discusWe urge Orem City, Provo City, Moimtainland, and any other appropriate groups to take special stesps to promulgate information. pecifically, we believe a prepared statement on the proposition from elected officials of the two cities to their respective voters would be helpful. The Herald would be happy to publish these. Secondly, to provide the people with further opportunity to ask uestions, we feel Provo City and Orem City each should hold at least one well-publicized public meeting devoted to this means of educating the public on the proposals. Of course the citizens themselves have a basic responsibility in getting informed. And the time do this is now because time is short.