Mar
3
More incentive to buy a new home in California. This one is literally for a new house though. The legislature approved $100M dollars to go towards a tax credit for the new construction. It is state tax credit of 5% of the new home price to the maximum of $10,000. And to think all the squabbling over a budget might actually end up helping me.
This started March 1, 2009 and will end one year from now though I suspect the money will run dry before the date does. The credit will be given in equal amounts over a 3 year period. Other things of note:
- there are no maximum income requirements
- you do not have to be a first time home buyer
- it needs to be your primary residence for at least 2 years
State of California Franchise Tax Board link to the program:
http://www.ftb.ca.gov/individuals/New_Home_Credit.shtml
State of California Franchise Tax Board Application:
http://www.ftb.ca.gov/forms/misc/3528A.pdf
Great info on the new California Home Buyers Tax Credit:
http://www.newhomessection.com/blog/10000-tax-credit-for-home-buyers-in-california/2009/02/21/
Nov
3
Here is what I am thinking about for November 4 on a state level. The propositions can be found at the Secretary of State web site http://www.voterguide.sos.ca.gov/.
Download a calendar reminder to vote: vote.vcs.ics
| Prop |
Decision |
Reason |
| 1A |
Maybe. |
SAFE, RELIABLE HIGH-SPEED PASSENGER TRAIN BOND ACT.
Phase I of the train project is the corridor between San Francisco Transbay Terminal and Los Angeles Union Station and Anaheim. If the authority finds that there would be no negative impact on the construction of Phase I of the project, bond funds may be used on any of the following corridors:
- Sacramento to Stockton to Fresno
- San Francisco Transbay Terminal to San Jose to Fresno
- Oakland to San Jose
- Fresno to Bakersfield to Palmdale to Los Angeles Union Station
- Los Angeles Union Station to Riverside to San Diego
- Los Angeles Union Station to Anaheim to Irvine
- Merced to Stockton to Oakland and San Francisco via the Altamont Corridor
It is really greener alternative than flying and certainly faster than other land trasport. Although I don’t quite see the benefit to the San Francisco Transbay Terminal and Los Angeles Union Station with so many cheap (and struggling) airlines with flights but the rest of it would dramatically reduce peoples commutes. Also it is a little rediculous that they will start with a SF to LA. Why not do the local services first whch would have agreater impact. |
| 2 |
Yes |
STANDARDS FOR CONFINING FARM ANIMALS. I am concerned that prices will go up and the poorest of us will have to pay for our morality. |
| 3 |
No |
CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL BOND ACT. GRANT PROGRAM. Most of the money, 80%, will go to private hospitals that the state does not fiscally manage in anyway, while university hospitals will only receive a fraction of the nearly $2 Billion that the tax payers will end up dishing out over the next 30 years. |
| 4 |
NO! |
WAITING PERIOD AND PARENTAL NOTIFICATION BEFORE TERMINATION OF MINOR’S PREGNANCY. How many more times does special interest need to have this same measure put on the ballot! This is nothing more than yet another ploy to overturn Roe v. Wade and inhibit the ability for young people to get a safe and confidential emergency contraception. btw, this one is a constitutional amendment. |
| 5 |
Yes |
NONVIOLENT DRUG OFFENSES. SENTENCING,
PAROLE AND REHABILITATION. Rehab works much better than jail, and it costs the tax payers a lot less. |
| 6 |
No |
POLICE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT FUNDING. If it was just funding I would not even consider voting no but this looks to take away rights from people who don’t have the money to fight back. |
| 7 |
No |
RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERATION. When a green initiative does not have the support of the green party, the league of conservation voters or most other Eco conscious voting organizations, you have to wonder. |
| 8 |
NO! |
ELIMINATES RIGHT OF SAME–SEX COUPLES TO MARRY.
INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. Taking away right from a minority group in this great state of California benefits no one. |
| 9 |
No |
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. VICTIMS’ RIGHTS. PAROLE.
INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND STATUTE. California alread has the Victims’ Bill of Rights which may not be adequate in all situations but I believe it will cost us a lot of money at a time where are spending way too much to begin with. |
| 10 |
No |
ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLES AND RENEWABLE ENERGY.
BONDS. INITIATIVE STATUTE. Don’t be fooled. This is corporate welfare for T. Boone Pickens and we will need to pick up the tab. It is was such a good solution, we would not need a ballot measure to raise the funds. |
| 11 |
Yes |
REDISTRICTING.
INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND STATUTE. It is to no one’s benefit to keep the districts setup to favor incumbents. The only concern here is that this new process could be less transparent than the current redistricting process. |
| 12 |
No |
VETERANS’ BOND ACT OF 2008. I am always in support of our veterans but which veterans would qualify? We are in fiscal crisis, isn’t this the Fed’s responsibility to raise these funds? |
What is your opinion?
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