Lawmakers to advance health-plan tax

February 23, 2016, 05:00 AM By Jonathan J. Cooper The
 

SACRAMENTO — A California legislative panel on Monday advanced a compromise plan to restructure taxes on health plans and increase funding for developmental disability services — the first legislative action in a monthslong effort to prevent a massive hole in the state health care budget.

The move came after influential groups on the right said they would not oppose the tax proposal, giving Republicans political cover to help Democrats reach the supermajority required to pass the legislation.
Still, only Democrats supported the tax plan negotiated by Gov. Jerry Brown in a joint Assembly-Senate committee Monday.

California has for years levied a tax on Medi-Cal managed care organizations, drawing down federal matching dollars to help pay for the state’s health insurance plan for the poor. But President Barack Obama’s administration said it would not renew the arrangement once it expires this summer unless California restructured its tax to apply more broadly, including to lucrative private insurance plans.
Allowing the tax to lapse would open a $1.1 billion hole in the budget for Medi-Cal, even as doctors warn that already low payments make it difficult for them to take on patients covered by the program.
Brown last year called a special session to resolve the issue but was unable to craft a plan that could clear the Legislature.

The Brown administration and insurers this month agreed to impose a new tax on insurance plans, allowing the state to continue collecting the federal matching dollars. The new tax would be offset by reductions in other levies on insurance plans. The industry as a whole is expected to pay about $100 million less in taxes, but each company would be affected differently.

The tax changes would need the Obama administration’s approval before taking effect.
Most insurers have publicly supported the measure or at least said they’re not opposed. The California Association of Health Plans said the agreement would secure funding for Medi-Cal while “protecting affordability” of insurance premiums.

Last week, the National Federation of Independent Business and the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, two groups influential with Republicans, said they were not opposed.

“There is no concrete evidence that any costs that may result from the (tax plan) will be passed onto ratepayers,” the Howard Jarvis group wrote in a memo to lawmakers.

To win Republican votes, the administration agreed to devote nearly $300 million to services for people with developmental disabilities, whose care providers have struggled to manage years of stagnant wages. That spending plan, ABX2-1, cleared the committee unanimously.

But in a sign of how divided the GOP still is, Republicans withheld their support from the tax plan, SBX2-2. Some Republicans argue lawmakers should use the state’s budget surplus to beef up the Medi-Cal budget.
“We should all be encouraged with how far this proposal has come since last year, including restoring funding services for the most vulnerable in our society,” Fuller said in a statement. “I still believe we can invest in California’s priorities without this health care revenue plan.”

Fun event @ Hiller, Feb 27 6-10pm

Get your tickets! Live music, dinner, no-host bar, Kids welcome.

San Carlos, CA

 

 By Lesle (Open Post) - February 19, 2016 5:10 pm ET

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2016-san-carlos-chickens-ball-kick-off-part...

Come support the 2016 San Carlos Chickens’ Ball at our Kick-Off Party and Fundraiser. The event will feature two bands! The Figs and GravyBoat a buffet dinner, dancing, and admission to the Hiller museum. There will be a no-host bar.

All event profit goes to fund new microphones to support theater arts in San Carlos--specifically the San Carlos Children’s Theater!

Gas May Get Even Cheaper in California

The California State Board of Equalization -- which will meet Feb. 23 in Culver City -- will consider lowering the excise tax rate for gasoline by 2.2 cents per gallon.

If adopted, the excise tax rate on gas will be 27.8 cents per gallon from July 1 through June 30, 2017.
The current excise tax rate of 30 cents per gallon remains in effect until June 30.

“Californians overpaid gas tax last year due to a bizarre and complex formula that most people don’t understand,” said BOE Vice Chair George Runner. “When prices fall we must lower the rate to ensure fairness. The cut will be a welcome and much-deserved tax break for Californians, who currently pay more taxes at the pump than drivers in other states.”

California drivers pay two types of state taxes on gas: sales tax, which is a percentage of the price, and a per-gallon excise tax.

Before the so-called “fuel tax swap” took effect in 2010, drivers paid the full sales tax rate -- then 8.25 percent -- and an excise tax rate of 18 cents per gallon.

The fuel tax swap lowered the sales tax rate on gasoline to 2.25 percent and requires the BOE to set a per-gallon excise tax rate annually before March 1.

This excise tax rate is calculated such that drivers still pay the same amount in overall taxes at the pump that they would have paid before the swap.

More from San Carlos Patch

In the 2014-15 fiscal year, the BOE collected nearly $5.4 billion in excise tax for the state’s Motor Vehicle Fuel Account, which helps pay for highways, roads and other public transportation projects.
The sales tax on gasoline also helps fund a variety of state and local road programs.

“In addition to tax relief, Californians need a clear tax system that’s easy to understand,” Runner said. “The current gas tax formula is a convoluted scheme enacted by the governor and Legislature in 2010. “
“The lack of transparency continues to erode public confidence,” he said. “The public deserves to know how much tax is being collected and how it’s being spent.”

The excise tax rate takes into account a number of factors, including forecasted gas price, forecasted amount of gallons sold, sales tax revenue that would have been collected prior to the fuel tax swap, and tax revenue over- or under-collected in the prior fiscal year.

The rate ensures that over a three-year period, motorists do not pay more or less in overall gas taxes than they would have prior to the swap.

Agency: Cities evading affordable housing law: Surplus Land Act dictates how government agencies should sell property

Cities within San Mateo County are trying to evade the Surplus Land Act, which could provide thousands of affordable homes in the area to address the worsening housing crisis, according to the nonprofit Housing Leadership Council. 

The agency sent out an email to members and supporters last week that contends “our jurisdictions are ignoring the law.”

The act dictates that all public agencies including cities, counties, transit agencies, school districts and special tax districts must prioritize affordable housing when disposing of surplus land.

HLC’s Executive Director Evelyn Stivers noted the South San Francisco City Council’s action Thursday night to approve a 272-unit apartment complex downtown to be built on land formerly owned by the city’s redevelopment agency.

Stivers said the move is out of compliance with the Surplus Land Act because the city did not solicit interest from affordable housing developers and give the first right of refusal before the land was offered to market rate developers.

It’s another missed opportunity to build affordable housing and risky for the city because it opens it up to litigation, Stivers said.

South San Francisco City Manager Mike Futrell disputes Stivers’ claim, however.
Redevelopment agencies were the primary tools for cities to build affordable housing until the state dissolved them in 2011.

When RDAs were dissolved, cities formed successor agencies to wind down the former agency’s activities.
“Successor agencies” are not included in the language of the Surplus Land Act, Futrell said.
Successor agency property is not “surplus property,” he said.

Stivers said it’s a “creative” way to get around the law just as San Jose claims the law doesn’t apply to it because it is a “charter city.”

A project proposed for San Mateo County Transit District Land also skirts the Surplus Land Act since there is no requirement the project provide 15 percent of the units to be affordable to lower-income households, Stivers said.

The Bay Area Rapid Transit agency recently passed a requirement of all new developments to include affordable housing when the agency started receiving letters from lawyers on the Surplus Land Act in response to the recently approved Millbrae BART station development, Stivers said.

The act is important, she said, because rising rents are creating “tidal waves of displacement throughout the Bay Area.”

The current housing crisis has forced many workers in the county to commute long distances, which worsens traffic and makes it more difficult for businesses to attract and maintain qualified workers, she said.
The high cost of land in the county makes it a challenge to build affordable housing which highlights the importance of following the Surplus Land Act, she said.

Futrell said South San Francisco is committed to building more affordable housing.

“Please make no mistake, however — South San Francisco strongly supports affordable housing. We have nearly 1,000 affordable units in operation currently in the city, representing a city investment of over $34 million and have numerous new affordable housing projects underway. The lack of affordable housing in this one project is not a change in priorities,” Futrell wrote in an email about the just approved project.

bill@smdailyjournal.com
(650) 344-5200 ext. 102

How to Redecorate Your Bedroom on a Tight Budget

by Kathy Adams, Demand Media

Clearing the clutter from your bedroom creates a calming, well-organized space.

If you're tired of the same old look in your bedroom, there's a good chance you've thought about redecorating. Completely revamping a room can be an expensive undertaking, especially if going for a designer look similar to those featured in a magazine. Rather than shopping at high-end stores to create your ideal decor, whip up your own "thrifty chic" makeover using repurposed or inexpensive materials from salvage shops, craft stores and home improvement retailers.

Wall Paint

Repainting a bedroom is one way to give the entire space a fresh look, even without replacing any of the belongings within the room. Some designer paint brands are quite expensive, especially if you wish to paint the entire room one color. Instead, check your local paint or home improvement store for a "mistint" section. Many retailers sell paint that was not quite the right shade for another customer at a fraction of what that paint would cost off the shelf. Who knows, they may have a shade that is just right for you. Another way to cut down on paint costs is to not repaint each wall entirely. Instead, opt for stripes, chevrons or designs plotted out with painter's tape, cutting down on the amount of paint needed. Painting just one wall in a fresh color turns it into a focal wall for the space.

Decals and Stamps

Homemade decals and stamps can be customized to any theme you like, since you're the one making them. Sticky-backed shelf paper or contact paper provides the vinyl decal material; draw or trace your designs, such as apples or dragonflies, onto the backing paper, then cut them out with a craft knife. These decals can be placed on walls, furniture, lamps and vases -- just about any smooth surface -- and are easily removed if you tire of them. Thick craft or shipping foam serves as homemade stamp medium. Draw a design onto the foam, then carve it out with a craft knife. Fabric paint allows you to stamp onto throw pillows, rugs, curtains, sheets and pillowcases, turning plain fabric into custom room decor. Acrylic craft paint, which is available in small inexpensive bottles, provides the same effect for stamping on walls, doors or furniture.

Furniture

If the existing furniture in the bedroom is still functional but a little outdated or uninteresting, revamp it with a new coat of paint. Painting several pieces a light shade such as white freshens the look of the entire room, especially if the bedroom features some dark or bright walls or furnishings. "New" old furniture to revamp can be found at thrift stores, yard sales or salvage shops for far less than such pieces would cost new, even when adding in the costs of repainting. Repurposed materials can also be used as furniture, such as an old wooden door atop two filing cabinets for a large desk, ideal if you work from home or want to create a kids' craft project area in their shared bedroom.

Organization and Accessorizing

Sometimes, clearing the clutter out of the room goes a long way to giving the bedroom a fresh, peaceful atmosphere. Relocating anything that doesn't belong in the room, such as piles of unfolded laundry or stacks of magazines, creates a sensation of more space. Use the extra space to create a reading nook by moving in an armchair from a cluttered room, or by moving one already in the room to an area near a window for a more enjoyable atmosphere. If the bed lacks a headboard, fashion one out of a salvaged door or garden gate, or a large picture frame plus upholstery foam and fabric. Empty wooden crates such as wine crates double as wall-mounted shelves for a somewhat rustic or country vibe.

Auditions for Summer Musical Stage Fun for Ages 8-13 Belmont, CA

Kids ages 8-13 are invited to audition for the San Carlos Children’s Theater summer musical “Alice in Wonderland Jr.” March 15-17. No experience necessary. Rehearsals begin June 20. Performances: July 22-25 & 29-31. Rehearsal days run 9 am - 3 pm M-F. Performers rehearse on stage from 9 am-1 pm, followed by a lunch break and 90-minutes of focused, in-depth theater training and fun activities. It’s a great opportunity to be in a Disney show AND try new skills in a supportive environment. Get More Info: http://www.sancarloschildrenstheater.com

Important Public Safety Information

San Mateo County Office of Emergency Services- Get emergency info when we do! Sign up today!

SMCAlert is an alert notification system used by the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office, to immediately contact you during local emergencies with useful information and updates by sending messages to your:

- email accounts (home, work, school, etc.)
- cell phones, pagers
- smartphones/handheld devices

SMCAlert is free!

For more information and to sign up go to:
www.smcalert.info

Land trust seeks $25M to preserve farmland

Land trust seeks $25M to preserve farmland: POST works with local agriculture workers in new conservation initiative
February 04, 2016, 05:00 AM By Samantha Weigel Daily Journal
Courtesy of POST An aerial view of the POST-preserved Cowell-Purissima property on the coastside that supports a recreational trail and local family farm. Seeking to preserve the San Mateo County coast’s rich agricultural history, the Peninsula Open Space Trust is embarking on a multi-million dollar effort to preserve dwindling farmland in perpetuity.  Officials with the nonprofit POST, local farmers and Supervisor Don Horsley will gather Thursday, Feb. 4, to announce the Farmland Futures Initiative. POST seeks to raise $25 million to triple the amount of farmland it has acquired and permanently protected for agriculture along the coast. This 10-year initiative is already gaining traction having secured more than $7.5 million from donors to date, according to POST. Through this initiative, POST wants to increase the number of farms protected on the coast from 11 to 33, and grow the total amount of preserved agricultural land from 750 acres to 2,250 acres, according to POST. “Protecting local working land matters to our environment, our farmers and our community,” POST President Walter Moore said in a press release. “Farms are vital to the health of our local ecosystems, waterways and the region’s overall food system, growing the farm-fresh foods that we as a society value and cherish. Our Farmland Futures Initiative aims to protect San Mateo County’s valuable remaining farmland as farms before they are lost for good.” With new developments booming throughout the region, the nine-county Bay Area has lost nearly 200,000 acres of agricultural land since the 1980s with San Mateo County losing 35 percent of its farmland either due to development or no longer being in production, according to POST. Farmland is a critical component of the overall conservation mosaic and it’s important to act now before more is lost, said Marti Tedesco, POST’s senior director of marketing and communications. “We have this great opportunity. We still have farmland that we can protect, which not a lot of places do. We have POST, which can help step in and protect and we also have a lot of interest from farmers coming out of U.C. Santa Cruz and U.C. Davis and we have this great market for locally grown food along the Peninsula. So it’s a perfect storm of opportunity for us to make this happen now,” Tedesco said. But outside of the land acquisitions and conservation easements POST seeks to gain over the next decade, officials are hopeful this program will allow farmers to either stay in business or provide opportunities for younger generations to pick up the trade. POST will work to either lease the land to farmers at an affordable rate or sell it to agricultural businesses for row crops such as fruit and vegetables, but primarily non-grazing purposes, Tedesco said. “We’ve done a lot of work on farms over the last 10 years and we’ve come to really appreciate that they’re such an important piece of the main conservation picture. And they’re still really dramatically threatened both by potential development and the fact that land is so expensive here. Farmers can’t afford to farm. And yet we have such amazing soil and there’s demand,” Tedesco said. In POST’s nearly 40-year history of purchasing land, it typically transitions it to another public agency. However, through this new initiative, Tedesco said farmers are the best people to work with as they are experienced and have a genuine interest in keeping these habitats thriving. This model has already successfully supported several farmers on the coast in recent years, including David Lea with Cabrillo Farms and Ryan Casey with Blue House Farms. As a fourth generation farmer, Lea’s family has had nearly a dozen landlords. Since POST stepped in and purchased the farm and surrounding acreage that was sought for redevelopment, the Lea family now owns their land for the first time in nearly 100 years, Tedesco said. Casey, who first became interested in agriculture while studying at University of California at Santa Cruz, is an excellent example of how POST is enabling a younger generation of farmers to get started. Casey, an organic farmer whose operation includes nearly 50 different crops, recently took over a 74-acre farm in San Gregorio that POST purchased. “POST has been great to work with,” said Casey, 39. “I think farming inherently is a difficult business to do regardless of whether you’re starting or where you’re at. I think POST has been significant in that they have give me access to a farming region that is historically difficult to get into. … There aren’t a whole lot of younger generation farmers that are taking it on out there, so the coastside is really in need of new growers to take on acreage as older farmers are retiring and moving on.” Supervisor Don Horsley said some of these farm families that previously rented faced regular uncertainty as to whether their livelihoods would be uprooted in place of redevelopments like a golf course or housing. Now, POST is helping keep farmers working and preserving land in perpetuity. “The lands on the coastside are really influenced by Silicon Valley properties and as we know, prices have really accelerated in the last few years and the same thing is happening on the coastside. So for a family farm, it’s increasingly difficult to hang on to land and probably even enticing to sell it for development purposes,” Horsley said. “That’s what this Farmland Futures Initiative is all about. If a farm family is older and going to divest themselves from their land, is there a young person willing to come in and take it over? The only way they’re going to be able to do that is for an organization like POST to come in.” Visit openspacetrust.org for more information about the POST. samantha@smdailyjournal.com (650) 344-5200 ext. 106

Annual Wine & Chocolate Festival

Valentine's Day Wine & Chocolate Pairing Festival Featuring 6 Local Wineries!

Bring your sweetheart to celebrate Valentine’s Day! Domenico Winery invites you to indulge at our Annual Wine & Chocolate Festival!

Saturday, February 6th 2016 | Noon-5:00pm | Domenico Winery | 1697 Industrial Road, San Carlos, CA 94070

6 wineries will be pouring their wine: Domenico Winery | Flying Suitcase Wines | Hunter DeHaven Winery | Jazz Cellars | Muccigrosso Vineyards | Russian Ridge Winery.

Coldwell Banker. Where Home Begins.

This is where touchdowns are made, camaraderie is formed and the community gathers to cheer on their favorite team.
 
Coldwell Banker. Where Home Begins.