Posts Tagged ‘enterprise zone news’
Governor’s Go-”Away” Biz Tees Up Its “New and Improved” Enterprise Zone Tax Credit
Tuesday, June 4th, 2013 | Enterprise Zones, Legislation, Tax News
Today, the Governor’s Go “Away” Biz think tank offered up a version of its new and improved tax credit. The Governor proposes to eliminate the current Enterprise Zone program and replace it with a program so chock full of limitations and strings attached that surely the only person smiling today is Rick Perry. Here is a link to the proposed new credit. Here is a link to the short version of what the Go-”Away” Biz credit actually provides.
5 of 37 “Job Killer” bills make it out of Session
Sunday, June 2nd, 2013 | Enterprise Zones, Legislation, Tax News
The Sacramento Bee reports that despite a heavy Democratic majority, only 5 bills labeled by the California Chamber of Commerce as “job killers” made it through the legislative session. Only one of them deals with tax credits, Senate Bill 365 by Sen. Lois Wolk, D-Davis, to sunset business tax breaks.
Villaraigosa Proposes Economic Development Department
Monday, April 22nd, 2013 | Enterprise Zones, Legislation
From today’s LA Business Journal:
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa on Monday released his final budget as mayor. The $7.7 billion spending plan would close a previously estimated $216 million deficit and proposes creation of an economic development department.
He also proposed creating an economic development department that would focus on small business support, workforce development and job creation. He also proposed combining the planning functions of the existing Building and Safety, Planning and other departments into a new Department of Planning and Development.
California was No. 4 in tax burden before Proposition 30 passed
Wednesday, March 20th, 2013 | Enterprise Zones, Legislation, Tax News
The Tax Foundation found that California ranked the fourth worst state when it comes to taxes. And that was before it added more taxes with Prop 30. Jerry Brown is gunning for number 1 if he continues his attempts to minimize the Enterprise Zone tax credits.
Forbes Ranks California 41st On Its Annual List Of Best States To Do Business
Thursday, December 20th, 2012 | Enterprise Zones, Legislation, Tax News
I guess it could be worse. Forbes ranked California as the 41st worst state to do business in. An unfavorable tax structure tops the list of why California ranks so low. Here is the study.
Assemblyman V. Manuel Pérez Appointed As The Democratic Whip
Monday, December 3rd, 2012 | Enterprise Zones, Legislation, Tax News
From today’s Imperial Valley News:
Sacramento, California – Today, State Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez announced his new leadership team, appointing Assemblyman V. Manuel Pérez (D-Coachella) to the position of Democratic Whip. The announcement was made during the swearing-in ceremony of the California State Assembly’s 2013-14 session.
“There is a lot of work to be done to keep the economy growing and get our communities back to work,” said Pérez, “and as a senior member of the Legislature entering my third and final term, I am pleased to be bringing my policy skills to bear as a member of the Speaker’s leadership team.”
As a member of Democratic leadership, Pérez will no longer serve as the committee chairman of the Assembly Committee on Jobs, Economic Development, and the Economy.
Also today, Pérez was nominated by his peers to serve as Vice Chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus. As Vice Chair, Pérez will work closely with State Senator Ricardo Lara, Chair, to set the direction and priorities of the Caucus. The Vice Chair serves a one-year term.
Among his first actions of the 2013 session, Pérez introduced AB 28, a bill that adds accountability and transparency measures to the California Enterprise Zone program, a state program designed to attract business investment and support job creation in low-income and underserved communities. Since his election to the State Assembly in 2008 and throughout his tenure as chair of the Assembly Jobs Committee, Pérez has been a vocal advocate to protect and strengthen this economic development program.
With the newly redrawn Assembly District lines, Pérez now represents the 56th district, which comprises the cities of Blythe, Brawley, Bermuda Dunes, Calexico, Calipatria, Cathedral City, Coachella, Desert Hot Springs, El Centro, Holtville, Imperial, Indio, Mecca, Oasis, North Shore, Salton Sea, Thermal, Thousand Palms, and Westmorland.
SAN FRANCISCO MAYOR LAUNCHES ENTERPRISE ZONE WEB APP TO HELP CITY BUSINESSES ACCESS TAX CREDITS
Friday, November 16th, 2012 | Enterprise Zones, Tax News
This posted yesterday in the San Francisco Sentinel.
Allows San Francisco Businesses to Access Valuable Hiring Tax Credits Through Simple Web-Based Tool; Advances Mayor’s Jobs Plan Goal of Using Technology to Make the City Easier Navigate for Business
Mayor Edwin M. Lee today announced the launch of the San Francisco Enterprise Zone Web App, a web-based tool that allows San Francisco businesses to apply online for the City’s popular Enterprise Zone hiring tax credit program. The Enterprise Zone Web App will replace a completely paper-based process with a web based tool which increases government efficiency and makes it easier for businesses to utilize the program.
“I am committed to making it easier for local businesses to operate and grow jobs in San Francisco,” said Mayor Lee. “The Enterprise Zone Web App takes a powerful tax incentive program and brings it online so small businesses, manufacturers and other firms can save time while they save money.”
“At SFMade we make sure that all of our manufacturers are aware of the Enterprise Zone hiring tax credits and the potential savings it offers,” said SFMade Executive Director Kate Sofis. “My staff works closely with small business owners with limited resources. Having the Enterprise Zone Web App instead of a paper process will make a big difference in terms of administrative costs, time and use of this important tax credit.”
“The Enterprise Zone hiring tax credit is really important to our company,” said Marissa Andres, Controller at Mackenzie Warehouse, an auto parts distributor located in Potrero Hill. “The savings we earn in tax credits are used for hiring and retaining employees. The online tool is simple and straight-forward and saves me valuable time.”
The Enterprise Zone is a State of California program which provides tax credits and other incentives to encourage business investment and promote the creation of new jobs. In place since 1997, the San Francisco Enterprise Zone is one of 42 Enterprise Zones in the state and is administered locally by the Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD). The San Francisco Enterprise Zone areas include the following areas: Bay View Hunters Point/ South Bayshore; Chinatown; the Mission; Mission Bay Project Area; Potrero Hill; south of Market; the Tenderloin; and the Western Addition and some portions of North Beach and Financial District.
The tool was developed using Firmstep’s AchieveForms software. The switch to an on-line app will not only decrease costs in paper and postage, but will also speed up the processing time getting businesses approved for tax credits more quickly and efficiently.
The San Francisco Enterprise Zone Web App can be found at http://sfezapp.oewd.org For more information on the San Francisco Enterprise Zone Program, go to: http://www.oewd.org/Enterprise-Zone.aspx For more information from the State on the Enterprise Zones Program, go to: www.hcd.ca.gov/fa/ez/ <http://www.hcd.ca.gov/fa/ez/>
Democrats Gain Supermajority in Both Legislative Houses
Wednesday, November 7th, 2012 | Enterprise Zones, Legislation, Tax News
The Sacramento Bee is reporting that the Democrats have gained a two thirds majority in both legislative houses. Consequently, they can raise taxes without any Republican opposition. What this means for the EZs is yet to be seen. There are some bright spots. First, many Democratic legislators have EZs in their districts and they have come out in favor of continuing the program. Second, given that Prop 30 passed, it is yet to be seen how aggressively the democrats will pursue further tax hikes, particularly employment related credits, in a still sensitive economy. Stay tuned….
The Dicon Opinion
Friday, April 27th, 2012 | Enterprise Zones, Legislation, Uncategorized“As the FTB explains in its opening brief: ―It is . . . reasonable to conclude that vouchers provide for an additional level of review which may satisfy the Board in some cases, while not in others. For example, in some cases the Board‘s review of a statistically significant sample of an employer‘s vouchers may convince it that the vouchers were properly issued only for eligible workers. In this case the Board may accept the vouchers without demanding the production of specific documentation of worker eligibility, or without any additional investigation. In other cases, though, the review of the employer‘s vouchers may raise concerns with the Board, or even reveal that vouchers were improperly issued. In these cases the Board will prudently demand evidence or documentation of worker eligibility. The Board is not required to audit every voucher in every case, just as it is not required to audit every taxpayer‘s return; in fact, the Board‘s limited budget effectively prevents this as a practical matter. In fact, given budgetary constraints, one would expect that the Board‘s review of employee eligibility would probably occur only in those cases where it has information that vouchers may have been improperly issued.‖ The FTB cites several weaknesses in the vouchering process that could lead the FTB to audit a voucher, noting that ―at the time the vouchers were issued in this case there were no statutory or regulatory requirements regarding the documentation required to obtain or issue a voucher. In addition, there is no requirement for an agency that issues vouchers to communicate at all with the employees for whom it is required to supply vouchers, and vouchers may be retroactively issued years after the employment takes place. [¶] Nor, until new regulations that became effective November 27, 2006, was there even a requirement that enterprise zone agencies keep voucher records. [Citation.]
We find reasonable the FTB‘s view that ―[t]he voucher process complements the review/audit process and enhances its efficiency by allowing the Board to rely on vouchers in those situations where it has confidence in their accuracy, while requiring evidence in those cases where it does not.‖ Because the FTB‘s interpretation of section 23622.7 is reasonable, there is no statutory conflict that requires the certification process to be harmonized with the laws governing the FTB‘s authority in the particular way urged by Dicon and the Court of Appeal.”