Reading In Between The Lines
The scale of the budget blueprint state lawmakers sent to Newsom on Wednesday is hard to comprehend: more than $300 billion allocated across more than 1,000 pages of text. But even small sums contained within short sentences can have massive implications. Consider the following two provisions buried within the budget:
- California taxpayers will pay about $54.5 million in incentive bonuses to keep youth prison workers on the job ahead of next years planned closure of the state Division of Juvenile Justice, CalMatters Byrhonda Lyons reports. The contracts, which Newsoms administration negotiated with six labor unions, represent one of the largest retention bonuses the state has ever offered to employees.
- A $600,000 line item underscores potentially massive changes for Californias stem cell agency, which voters narrowly opted to keep alive in 2020 by approving as much as $5.5 billion in bonds. When voters greenlighted the ballot measure, they also gave state lawmakers power for the first time over financial royalties from therapies and inventions financed by the agency, Capitol Weekly reports. And although $600,000 may not sound like much lawmakers are allocating it to the agency to develop a patient assistance program its just the tip of the iceberg: Another $15 million in royalties remains available in state coffers, according to Capitol Weekly.
The Hidden Risks Of Childrens Day Camps
One morning in June 2019, Doug Forbes and his late wife Elena Matyas dropped off their six-year-old daughter, Roxie, at a day camp in Altadena. Less than an hour later, they were racing to the hospital: Roxie had drowned in the camp pool.
It was only after Roxies death that her parents discovered the extent to which childrens day camps are unregulated in California, CalMatters Elizabeth Aguilera reports in this heart-wrenching story. Unlike child care facilities and schools, day camps are not required to conduct employee background checks, be licensed by the state, mandate CPR certification or report injuries or deaths to the state. No state agency conducts inspections for child safety, audits lifeguard certifications or reviews safety plans for activities that include zip-lining, swimming and shooting guns.
- Forbes: What we found out was that nobody is watching over these camps. Millions of children are at operations that are completely unlicensed.
Meanwhile, a legislative proposal to toughen regulations is facing obstacles.
- Assemblymember Chris Holden, a Pasadena Democrat who introduced the bill after Roxies death: It would be totally irresponsible for us to continue operating this way as a state knowing what we know and the great harm that has happened to children. But its very complicated trying to find who will be the regulator of this. Everybody says this needs to happen but no one wants to take hold of it.
Several California Refineries Experiencing Issues
The California Air Resources Board has strict requirements for gasoline sold within the state, so the state sources a majority of its supply from its refineries. AAA says at least six of the states 14 refineries have been taken offline for maintenance in recent weeks.
“The explanation here is that there have been a number of refinery outages both planned and unplanned here in California and so the supply of gasoline has gone down, even though the price of oil has also been going down,” Mark Agerton, an assistant professor at UC Davis Agriculture and Resource Economics Department, told CapRadio.
A Chevron refinery in Richmond went offline on Sept. 11 for unplanned maintenance, which Agerton said is placing a strain on the supply of gasoline in the state. The facility can process over 245,000 barrels of gas per day, according to the California Energy Commission.
In a statement, Chevron said that they do not discuss specific operational details related to our facility.”
“We don’t know the details of the unplanned work but what we can tell you is right now is oil refinery turnaround season, AAAs John Treanor said. And what that means is, after the summer rush, oil refineries have to do routine maintenance and get inspections done.”
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As Gas Prices Soar State On Brink Of Sending Rebates
Remember when Gov. Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers struck a deal a couple of months ago to send millions of California taxpayers between $200 and $1,050 to help cover the rising cost of living?
Well, a week from today, the state is set to begin depositing the first round of payments in Californians bank accounts. And, although some taxpayers likely wont see their refunds until January 2023 and some of the states most vulnerable residents wont get checks at all for many people the timing will be opportune.
Thats because gas prices are rising again after nearly 100 days of decline nationwide. The uptick is particularly pronounced in California, where the average price of a gallon of regular shot to $6.18 on Thursday, up from $6.04 just the day before and $5.52 a week ago, according to AAA.
- Doug Shupe, corporate communications manager for the Auto Club of Southern California, told the San Diego Union-Tribune: In my time with the Auto Club, at AAA, I have not seen such quick volatility and changes.
Supply may also be restricted nationally as Hurricane Ian pounds Florida and other states and threatens to limit gas distribution due to a lack of electricity and flooded roads and highways, according to AAA. On Thursday, Gov. Gavin Newsom deployed California emergency management and mass care specialists to Florida to help respond to the storms destruction.
In a slew of press releases this week, legislative Republicans blamed Democrats for the soaring gas prices.
Who Supported And Opposed Proposition 30
- See also: Support and Opposition
Yes on 30: Clean Air California led the campaign in support of Proposition 30. It received endorsements from the California State Association of Electrical Workers and California Environmental Voters. Two other committees also registered in support of Proposition 30: Yes on 30: Working Families and Environmental Voters to Expose Greedy Billionaires and CEOs and California Environmental Voters Issues Committee. Together the committees reported $48 million in contributions. Lyft was the top contributor with $45.1 million in contributions. Bill Magavern, one of the authors of the initiative, said, “We need to protect the health of Californians. California needs to step up to protect its own. The state is doing a lot to reduce harmful emissions but the budget, even with the governor making the commitment he has, is insufficient to address these problems.”
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California Gas Tax Increase 2022
California Gas Tax Increase 2022. Why wasnt the july 1st gas tax increase suspended 60 days ago? California is set to experience a major change in its economy on july 1st, 2022.
Never fear, the assembly select committee on gasoline supply and. California already has the nations highest gas prices, with a state average of $5.68 per gallon. That is the highest of any state in the usa.
Source: itep.orgSource: www.quora.com
Lower fuel tax rates in 202223. July 1 is shaping up to be a big day for california.
Source: energynow.ca
the overall gas tax in california is right now around 51 cents a gallon, and will be around 54 cents a gallon, said severin borenstein, a professor at uc berkeleys haas school of business. California gas tax increase starts july 1st, 2022.
Source: mtc.ca.gov
The plans to increase the gas tax will go into effect on july 1, 2022. The socialist revolution in chicago.
Source:
Drivers will pay nearly 3. The amount of this reduction would exactly offset the inflation adjustment currently scheduled for july 1, 2022.
What Is Motor Fuel Tax Revenue Used For
In 2019, revenues from the transportation fund were over $44 billion.
Depending on the jurisdiction, some of the revenue from gasoline and diesel taxes can only be used for transportation related programs like improving infrastructure. Other jurisdictions allow the revenues to be added to the general fund which is used for a variety of programs.
Meanwhile revenues from aviation fuel and jet fuel taxes mainly fund airport and Air Traffic Control operations by the Federal Aviation Administration .
This analysis is intended for informational purposes only and is not tax advice. For tax advice, consult your tax adviser. See the full disclaimer here.
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How Much More Expensive Will Gas Be In California After July 1
As mentioned above, the gas tax increase will be just less than three cents. This will see the amount of tax on gas in California go up from 51.1 cents per gallon to 53.9 cents per gallon.
This increase is built in to California law and it is based on inflation, which is why it is a quite large increase.
The average car has a 13-gallon tank, so it’ll cost an extra 36 cents to fill up from empty at the pumps.
The increase in gas tax will logically increase the overall price of gas, which in California is currently 5.74 dollars per gallon on average.
California Gas Tax Goes Up 3 Cents On July 1
Gas prices continue to creep down, but they’ll tick back up Friday by at least three cents when California’s scheduled tax rate goes up.
California’s gas tax hovers at about 51 cents a gallon, so when the scheduled increase kicks in Friday, it will be about 54 cents a gallon.
Prices remain high, with Los Angeles County residents paying an average of $6.34 a gallon on Wednesday, $6.32 a gallon in Ventura County, and an average of $6.25 in the Inland Empire. But those averages have actually gone down nearly 6 cents since last week in Los Angeles County.
Because they remain well over $6, and keep ticking up and down, experts say drivers might not feel the difference. But many drivers, who are already dealing with inflation in just about every facet of living right now, say they feel the impact of every penny.
Republican lawmakers have been calling on Gov. Gavin Newsom to suspend the gas tax, and there was proposals earlier this year of offering a Newsom proposes $400 gas rebate payments to California vehicle owners. Instead, lawmakers have reached a deal to send “inflation relief” payments to 23 million Californians.
President Biden has called for a 3-month gas tax holiday, but in California, there are no plans to suspend the gas tax.
First published on June 29, 2022 / 9:52 AM
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Free Money Is Coming To Californians To Offset High Gas Prices Will It Also Come With A Tax Bill
The new California tax refund isnt really a tax refund. But what is it? The uncertainty is why the taxability question is hard to answer.
Data show the Los Angeles area, which includes Orange County, saw a 7.6% increase over all items and goods through the month of August. Food prices are up over 9% and energy prices rose 20.7%, mainly because of the demand increase and rising cost of gasoline.
A year ago, Californians paid an average of $4.42 for a gallon of gas. The current average is $6.42, according to the American Automobile Assn. High demand, coupled with a diminishing domestic supply, has led to soaring prices at the pump.
Relief is not likely to arrive anytime soon because of decisions on the global stage. Some of the worlds most influential oil producers announced deep cuts Wednesday to the volume of oil barrels that will be produced.
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies including Russia, collectively referred to as OPEC+, announced a reduction of 2 million barrels per day, the largest cut since 2020, in order to drive up the cost of oil. Prices have plummeted in recent months because of fears of a global economic recession, which prompted the oil cartel to pump the brakes on production.
Which State Has The Highest Tax Rate
The state with the highest tax rate on gasoline is Pennsylvania at $0.576 / gallon followed closely by California at $0.539 / gallon.
The highest tax rate on diesel is $0.741 / gallon again from Pennsylvania.
Meanwhile, the highest tax rate on aviation fuel is Massachusetts at $0.436 / gallon.
Finally, DC has the highest tax rate on jet fuel at $0.235 / gallon.
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Fireworks Show Back On Mission Bay After 10 Years
Both Democrats and Republicans at the state capitol have been vocal in the past months about wanting to suspend the gas tax for a year and give residents money to keep up with rising inflation.
Gov. Gavin Newsom initially proposed halting the gas tax increase for a year in his January budget draft. His efforts were opposed by lawmakers concerned about the effect this would have on funding transportation projects.
Though Newsoms efforts failed, a group of bipartisan lawmakers proposed a bill to suspend the tax in April. The bill missed the deadline for a vote, which was required for budget measures to be considered.
The tax increase is part of Californias budget plan, which Newsom and the legislature reached an agreement over on June 26. If finalized, the agreement includes a one-year suspension on the diesel tax, which would go into effect Oct. 1.
This years state budget plan also propose inflation relief payments for about 23 million California residents. These direct payments, which range from $200 to $1,050 depending on income and family size, will go out between October and the beginning of the year.
Deal Reached On Plan For More Than $9 Billion In Gas Refunds To California Drivers
Gov. Gavin Newsom and leaders of the California Legislature have agreed to provide more than $9 billion in refunds to taxpayers to offset high gas prices and inflation. The deal comes after months of slow negotiations at the state Capitol and disagreement between Democrats over how much relief to offer.
The hike comes just hours after Gov. Gavin Newsom and state Democrats signed into law a budget deal for gas tax relief, which will be delivered in the form of refunds to the states residents.
But several state leaders, including many in the GOP, had been pushing for the state to temporarily suspend the gas tax altogether.
The Governor and the Legislature could have suspended the states gas tax and stopped this, Assemblyman Vince Fong , vice chair of the Assembly Budget Committee, said in a statement about the increase. But by choice, the ruling party in Sacramento is choosing not to do so. The result will be more rising costs on practically everything.
Newsom and other Democratic leaders ultimately rejected the idea of suspending the gas tax increase, with some arguing that doing so would cut off funding for much-needed infrastructure projects and cost jobs.
Others said there was no guarantee that the oil companies would pass the savings on to consumers, with Democratic Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon announcing a legislative inquiry to determine whether oil companies are ripping off drivers.
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How Much Will You Get
Weve made a tool for you to look that up. The Franchise Tax Board also has information, as well as a customer help line, which can be reached by dialing 800-542-9332. The help line has assistance in English, Spanish, Mandarin, Hindi, Vietnamese, Korean, and Punjabi. The board says other languages may be supported by request.
Reform California Continues Its Campaign To Repeal The Gas And Car Tax Hikes Imposed Without A Proper Public Vote
While Reform Californias Gas Tax Repeal Initiative was placed on the ballot in the November 2018 election as Proposition 6, state politicians intentionally changed the Title on Prop 6 to intentionally deceive voters removing the words Gas Tax Repeal and replacing them with Eliminates Road Repairs. This was false and unfair and Reform California will not give up this fight!
An Unfair and Costly Gas Tax Hike That Hurts Working Families
There are two simple reasons why we should repeal the gas and car tax hikes: it costs you a lot more than you think the tax hike will cost the typical family of four $779.28 more per year in taxes and 2) it wont fix our roads this is a blank check tax hike that has already been diverted away from road repairs.
Where does the money go? Pensions and salaries for government bureaucrats, acquiring park land, recruiting lifeguards, climate change initiatives, transit, High Speed Rail, bike lanes, and road diets where they actually remove lanes for cars. In fact, the gas tax legislation expressly prohibits adding any regular lanes on highways and freeways for cars!
Theres a Better Way the Road Repair Accountability Initiative
Californians are right to demand that our roads be repaired and expanded. Thats why our coalition has proposed the Road Repair Accountability Initiative. This measure is written not by the politicians, but taxpayer watchdogs and infrastructure experts. It imposes three strict and real requirements:
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Gas Prices Are Down But New State Gas Taxes Aren’t Helping
Eight states have raised taxes on gasoline this summer. Learn if you’re impacted by the new hikes.
Dan Avery
Writer
Dan is a writer on CNET’s How-To team. His byline has appeared in Newsweek, NBC News, The New York Times, Architectural Digest, The Daily Mail and elsewhere. He is a crossword junkie and is interested in the intersection of tech and marginalized communities.
Gas prices in the US finally dipped under the $4 per gallon average nationally this week for the first time since March 2022, a welcome sign for families hit hard by inflation. In some states, however, new increases in gas taxes have taken a bite out of those fuel savings.
In July 2022, eight states raised gas taxes. The hikes took effect at the start of the 2023 fiscal year, and most were scheduled long before soaring inflation and the current gas price crisis started.
Other states have gone the other way with “gas tax holidays.” Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear suspended the state’s 2-cent-per-gallon increase until January 2023, reportedly saving Kentuckians about $35.4 million. And Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp extended the state’s pause on taxes for diesel and gasoline until Sept. 12, 2022.Read on to see where gas taxes have risen and how much more motorists are paying. For more, get quick tips for saving money on gas and learn how to drive smarter to save fuel.