Monday, November 6, 1989 / University Daily Kansan
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The DIS catalog, the Copenhagen Study Guide, contains detailed program informa-
DIS is one of the oldest, largest and most highly esteemed study abroad programs in Europe. Since its foundation in 1959, the program has provided a quality academic and cultural experience to over 12,000 mostly American students.
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For more information contact the University of Kansas
Office of Study Abroad in 203 Lippincott
or
come by the 3rd Annual Study Abroad Fair
Wednesday, November 8. 9:30 - 3:30 p.m.
in the Kansas Union Galleries.
one-quarter one-half BBQ Chicken BBQ Chicken $3.95 $4.95
High taxes to curb keeping of history
National Register properties to crumble because financial burden too expensive
By Derek Schmidt
Kansan staff writer
TOPEKA - Rising property taxes will lead to the deterioration of historic properties, a legislative committee was told Friday.
"The condition of many of the properties listed on the National Register continues to deteriorate," said Martha Hagedorn-Krass of the historic preservation department of the Kansas State Historical Society. The National Register is a listing of historic properties.
"Maintenance on historic properties often is expensive and yet is essential for the preservation of the state's cultural heritage," she said. The most important stone structures have all but cemented away from lack of maintenance.
"Many slate roofs have vanished from their lofty perch atop rambling Queen Anne homes, replaced with cheaper and less durable composite shingles. These examples bode ill for the preservation of the state's cultural heritage."
"We in Lawrence have noted many instances where properties which are listed on the National Historic Register have been given a higher tax valuation than if they were not listed," wrote Dave Billings, president of the Lawrence Preservation Alliance, in a letter received by the committee. "It is unfortunate that these property would be penalized for devoting their personal time and efforts to preserving our housing heritage."
Several owners of historic properties told the Joint Committee on Arts and Cultural Resources that reappraisal had boosted their tax burdens and decreased the amount of money they could spend on maintenance.
Sometimes, the fact that the property is historic increases its value.
Moreover, when historic properties are renovated, the appraised values rise, the owners said, thus removing incentive for restoration.
Mansion in Abilene, said the taxes on the home increased by 270 percent since 1988 to an estimated $3,945 in 1989.
Since he purchased the home in 1982, he has repaired fire damage, Tietjens said, but he has not modernized the home. He said it had the original wiring, boiler heating and no air conditioning. Tietjens is appealing the tax increase to the Kansas Board of Tax Appeals.
In addition, Oleen said, the check-off money was not always used properly in other states.
Terry Tietjens, owner of the Seelye
Leo Bobde, owner of a National Register home in Leavenworth, said that his restoration also had boosted his tax burden. He said that when his home was reappraised at $135,000, 250 percent of its former value, no appraiser actually visited the property until Bodde appealed the appraisal. The appraiser then reduced the appraised value to $91,200.
"A lot of it's in the mind and in the education of the appraiser," Bodde said. "There's a lot of variation on that."
The money would be used to help private owners of historic properties maintain those properties, Adam said.
Kansas tax forms now contain a check-off for wildlife preservation. State Sen. Lana Oleen, R-Manhattan, said that the amount of money generated by check-offs in other states declined when the number of check-offs increased.
The check-off would be in addition to a taxpayer's tax liability, Adam said. That means, for example, that if a taxpayer owed $100 in taxes and checked off $10 for historic preservation, he would pay a total of $110.
State Rep. Joan Adam, D-Atchison,
proposed a check-off that would
allow state taxpayers to specify on
their tax forms whether they wanted
to give money for historic preservation.
"They were using a lot of the dollars from check-off to convince people to check it off," she said.
When they were in college the typewriter was the cutting edge of technology
When mom and dad were in college, an eraser pencil with a fan brush was the best tool for correcting mistakes. So when I said I wanted a Macintosh computer, I had some explaining to do.
College students do a lot of writing - and rewriting. Compared to the old way, a Macintosh saves you loads of time in organizing your paper, typing it, and correcting mistakes. Time you can spend researching, fine-tuning your topic, and getting a better grade. The Macintosh stores your information so you can go back and make changes without starting over. It's easy!
Then I told them that I'll never get a better bargain than while I'm a KU student. They really related to that.
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