Posted by: Kim_Hamilton on 11/18/2010 04:44 PM
Updated by: Kim_Hamilton on 11/18/2010 08:04 PM
Expires: 01/01/2015 12:00 AM
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Timber, Jails and Taxes Were The Topics at the Taxpayers Luncheon on Wednesday
Murphys, CA...The Calaveras County Taxpayers Association (CCTA) sponsored a public luncheon with local experts providing facts and opinion on taxpayer topics Wednesday at the Murphys Hotel, according to Al Segalla, CCTA President. Mark Luster, Calaveras County Chamber President and Sierra Pacific Industries Representative, provided extensive information about survival of the timber industry in Calaveras County and California. Some of his points were...
Sierra Pacific Industry's Mark Luster Talking About the Cost of Doing Business in California.
The cost of doing business in California has continued to escalate. The number of timber harvest plans reviewed and approved by the state decreased 63% from 1997 – 2007, yet the cost to the state to review, approve and enforce those plans increased 231%.
During the housing boom in California most folks would think that the timber industry flourished, but actually due to a fall-off in the amount of national forest and private timber and the regulatory environment including litigation, 29 California sawmills closed between 1997 and 2008.
While sawmills are closing in California and jobs being lost, the demand for wood continues to increase. Subsequently, California consumers are now buying wood products from other countries and states. In fact, 80% of the wood purchased by consumers in California in now imported!
Gary Kuntz, Sheriff Elect, shared his thoughts and hopes for improvements in the Sheriff Department.
He indicated preference in having a local shooting range because now our officers must drive two hours round trip to another county.
He saw merit in phasing construction of the new jail to lessen the burden on the taxpayer.
He will be organizing community based law enforcement to allow better personal contact with the public.
Darrell Wilburn, CPA, provided extensive information about the effects retirement benefits on the taxpayer and the possibility of county future insolvency. Among his key points were:
At today’s 2% returns on investment in the retirement portfolio:
- A county employee with reported salary 0f $38,000 will receive a total compensation of over $100,000 for this year’s work, including retirement.
- Over a 25 year career, retirement paid to Calpers will be short by $1,200,000 to $1,800,000 for each employee at a salary of $38,000. More at higher salary.
- County taxpayers are responsible to make up the difference!
Bob Mulvany, Vice President, received a CCTA Award for Excellence in Taxpayer Advocacy. He is resigning as a Director and was appointed to the Executive Council. Bob will be moving out of the county. He also donated the six volume biography of Thomas Jefferson which was auctioned for $100.
The next CCTA public luncheon will be in January and will feature presentation of the annual Excellence in Public Service Award.
More information is available about CCTA at CalaverasTaxpayers.org
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