California
California Tax-Sharing Transparency Bill Would Benefit Everyone
California residents should know how much of their tax dollars are going to big-box retailers, local businesses, and the consultants who broker revenue-sharing deals with cities. That’s why a bill moving through the state legislature is such welcome news.
The measure, A.B. 2854, focuses on the transparency of information that’s now accessible to the state, local districts, cities, and residents related to monies that are part of shared agreements between a few dozen California cities and either large retail chains or other businesses. The bill is now before the legislature’s Appropriations Committee.
These agreements send millions of dollars annually to some of the world’s largest retailers, including Apple Inc., Best Buy Co. Inc., and Walmart Inc. California cities would have to disclose how much sales tax revenue they give to the retailers, as well as how much the cities are receiving as a boon to themselves from these deals.
The funds used to broker these deals are considered public monies because, if they weren’t part of the deal, they could be used for public facilities, public roads, and so on. Local constituents and business owners are told where their taxes and the public funds are going. These transactions should be no different.
The funds that these cities are distributing and receiving affect not only that specific city, but also the localities and their constituents around that city. Neighboring towns and their businesses should know how many dollars and what related agreement terms are involved so they too can decide how to incentivize their city with local and national retailers.
One potential argument against A.B. 2854 is that information on tax-sharing agreements should be withheld from all individuals and businesses due to growing tension and resentment by cities and businesses that aren’t part of these deals.
But those individuals, localities, and businesses already know these agreements exist and that cities and retailers are getting exorbitant amounts of monies handed to them for these deals.
Showing the true nature of these agreements won’t deter any existing tension and resentment. Instead, it would allow uninvolved businesses or cities to determine how to best use a similar agreement and relationship to benefit themselves as well.
It is unreasonable to assume that individuals and businesses would be willing to accept limitations on accessing data related to public funds—not when those limitations could hinder possible attempts to improve their state, their localities, and their livelihoods.
These retailer tax-sharing agreements and their related data bring local windfalls by creating jobs and an influx of monies necessary to bettering the community and its individuals. Allowing the data from those agreement to become fully available and accessible is beneficial to all.
This article does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg Industry Group, Inc., the publisher of Bloomberg Law and Bloomberg Tax, or its owners.
Author Information
Lauren Suarez is an attorney at RJS Law with focus on federal and state tax controversy matters.
Allison Soares is a tax attorney at Vanst Law who focuses on audits, collections, appeals, international disclosures, and all other tax problems.
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California
UPDATE: Crash at California/Dakota
10:06 PM: Police are arriving at the scene of a two-vehicle crash reported at California/Dakota, with at least two people hurt.
11:06 PM: Police have just reopened the street. We went to the scene after a report that one vehicle had ended up on the lawn of a church – First Lutheran Church of West Seattle (WSB sponsor) – is on the southwest corner – but all we could see was one vehicle on the sidewalk. We’re following up with SFD regarding the people who were hurt.
California
Southern California’s wild weather is not over. Wind gusts of up to 65 mph predicted
Last week’s rain won’t be the end of Southern California’s wild weather as strong wind gusts are forecast through the area until Tuesday.
Gusts of up to 65 mph are expected in mountains and valleys throughout the region, with the National Weather Service warning that power outages were possible and that residents should keep an eye out for downed trees and power lines.
“Travel could be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles,” according to an alert issued by the National Weather Service.
The recent storms that drenched Southern California and soaked the soil could also “increase the likelihood of damage” caused by downed trees and power lines, the agency noted.
The National Weather Service issued the advisory Sunday, warning that the western Santa Monica Mountains, Santa Susana Mountains, San Gabriel Mountains and the Interstate 5 and Highway 14 corridors could see strong winds starting Sunday evening, lasting until Monday afternoon.
Winds between 20 to 30 mph are expected in those areas until Sunday evening. Wind speeds are then predicted to pick up until Monday afternoon, with northeast winds of up to 40 mph and gusts of up to 65 mph.
A similar alert for strong gusts was issued by the weather service for the San Bernardino and Riverside County mountain and valley regions, as well as the Santa Ana Mountains, where strong winds could linger until Tuesday afternoon.
Northeast winds with speeds of up to 30 mph are expected to hit the area starting this evening, with gusts of up to 60 mph.
The high wind alerts come after the region was drenched for days, causing debris flows that washed through homes in Wrightwood. At least three people were killed in storm-related deaths, including a man in San Diego who was struck by a falling tree. In Boyle Heights, a rare tornado touched down on Christmas morning.
More rain is expected this week, including the possibility of rain on New Year’s Day.
California
Gas line explosion rocks California: Video shows debris clouds filling the sky; residents report ‘jet-like’ roar – The Times of India
A major natural gas pipeline explosion in northern Los Angeles County on Saturday prompted authorities to issue shelter-in-place orders and temporarily shut down a key Southern California highway, officials said.The incident occurred around 4.20 pm local time near Ridge Route Road and Pine Crest Place in Castaic, close to the southbound lanes of Interstate 5, a critical route linking Southern and Northern California. The damaged pipeline is a 34-inch transmission gas line, located just east of the freeway.
Los Angeles County Fire Department spokesperson Capt. Brian Kight said emergency crews received multiple calls reporting the gas leak. While residents described loud noises, Kight stressed that “there were no reports of any explosions from the leak and no reported injuries,” the Los Angeles Times reported.Videos shared on social media showed orange plumes rising from a hillside, which appeared to have partially collapsed, with debris clouds filling the sky.Several residents said they heard loud booms, while NBC 7 San Diego reported that people across the Santa Clarita Valley felt their homes shake. One witness described a “strong sulfur smell and a loud noise resembling a jet engine,” the outlet added.At L.A. County Fire Department Station 149, located about a mile away, Kight said he could smell gas from “20 minutes out.” The Los Angeles City Fire Department also received reports of a strong rotten egg smell from residents as far away as the north San Fernando Valley.In response, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) closed all lanes of Interstate 5 at 5.12 pm, diverting northbound traffic to State Route 126 and southbound vehicles to State Route 138. Traffic came to a near standstill for miles, leaving motorists stranded for hours, the Los Angeles Times reported.A shelter-in-place order was issued at 5.40 pm that covered much of Castaic. Authorities advised residents to close doors and windows, shut off vents, and turn off HVAC systems.By 6 pm, the gas company had shut off both sides of the ruptured line, though firefighters and a hazardous materials task force continued monitoring a residual leak. The CHP announced shortly before 9 pm that Interstate 5 had reopened.The cause of the rupture remains under investigation. While officials said it is unclear what triggered the incident, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies told CBS Los Angeles that it was possibly caused by “a mudslide.”More details awaited.
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