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According to AAA, which tracks gas prices as a service to consumers, every Northern California metro area tracked by the organization saw an increase of at least 24 cents at the pump over the past month.
The Golden State’s average for a gallon of regular, unleaded gasoline is $4.17, up 26 cents since last month’s report on March 8.
For perspective, that’s $1.06 higher than California’s average price on this date last year.
Northern California gas prices are now averaging $4.17, up 27 cents from last month.
In the San Francisco Bay Area, motorists can expect to pay an average price of $4.22, which is a 26-cent increase.
The national average price of $3.79 is up by 27 cents, which is 93 cents more than the national price on this date last year, when it was $2.86.
“Investors continue to be the largest force driving the market price for oil. Instability in the Middle East and North Africa still has them concerned about the world’s supply of crude, which has helped to keep oil prices on the rise,” explained AAA Northern California spokesperson Matt Skryja. “Domestically, weakness in the U.S. dollar has also contributed to rising crude prices. When the dollar weakens, investors, including those holding foreign currencies, are more likely to invest in U.S. commodities, including crude, which pressures the prices upward.”
For the second week in a row, demand for gasoline has dropped across the United States.
However, this has not had a huge impact on prices at the pump, given the global nature of the crude oil market.
With violence continuing in Libya, as well as concern about unrest in Syria and Yemen, crude oil prices saw sustained upward momentum throughout last week because of investors’ concern over impacts to the world’s supply.
Investors are currently betting that oil prices will move higher. This was reflected by a huge jump recently in the amount of money going into crude oil futures.
The current rate is about 10 times the amount of speculative dollars that were in crude products on exchanges in 2003. This illustrates that speculation is currently one of the primary drivers of crude oil prices.
The least expensive average price in Northern California can be found in Marysville, where regular is $4.09.
Of all the metro areas in Northern California where gas prices are tracked by AAA, Eureka’s average price of $4.34 is the highest. It’s also the highest price reported by AAA in the lower 48 states.
The least expensive gasoline in the country is found in Casper, Wyoming, where for the second consecutive month the average price of gas is $3.37. Wailuku, Hawaii, holds the dubious crown for the highest average price in the nation, at $4.76 per gallon.
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During this signup period, farmers and ranchers may offer eligible land through the local Farm Service Agency county office.
“Farm Service Agency is celebrating the 25th year of the Conservation Reserve Program,” said Dolcini. “During these many years, CRP has been tremendously successful in improving wildlife habitat and the environmental quality of our land, air and water resources. These resources are the treasures of our rural landscape.”
CRP is a voluntary program that allows environmentally sensitive land be used for conservation benefits. Producers accepted in the program plant long-term, resource conserving vegetative covers in exchange for rental payments, cost share and technical assistance.
By reducing water runoff and sedimentation, CRP protects groundwater and improves the condition of lakes, rivers, ponds and streams.
The vegetative covers offers improved wildlife habitat, making it a major contributor to the increase in wildlife population.
FSA evaluates and ranks eligible land offered for CRP using the Environmental Benefits Index (EBI).
The EBI review looks at five environmental factors: wildlife, water, soil, air and enduring benefits, as well as cost. The land is ranked based on which would offer the greatest environmental benefits.
In addition to this general sign-up, CRP’s continuous sign-up program is ongoing. Continuous acres represent the most environmentally desirable and sensitive land.
For more information, visit www.fsa.usda.gov/crp.
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Caltrans implements a DBE Program as a condition of receiving $3 billion in federal transportation funding annually.
The program ensures a level playing field for disadvantaged and small businesses competing for public
contracts.
“This decision affirms that Caltrans' efforts to level the playing field are constitutionally sound and will ensure that billions of dollars in federal transportation funds continue flowing to California,” said Caltrans Director Cindy McKim. “We will continue to reach out to disadvantaged businesses and hope our program serves as a model for other states to follow.”
In 2005, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals provided new guidance to states on implementation of DBE programs (Western States Paving vs. Washington State Department of Transportation).
In response, Caltrans conducted a study to identify the existence and scope of discrimination, if any, in the highway transportation contracting industry in California.
The study was completed in 2007 and identified significant disparities in contract dollars awarded to African-American, Asian Pacific- American, Native American and women-owned firms.
To address those disparities, Caltrans proposed the use of both race-neutral and race-conscious means in its contracting programs.
In 2009, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) approved the proposal, which includes an overall goal of 13.5 percent DBE involvement.
In June 2009, the Pacific Legal Foundation filed its complaint in federal court on behalf of Associated General Contractors of San Diego, asking the court to declare Caltrans’ DBE Program unconstitutional and order it halted.
On March 23, Judge Mendez determined that the program satisfied constitutional requirements and denied the plaintiff’s request.
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SACRAMENTO – Board of Equalization (BOE) First District Member Betty T. Yee is reminding taxpayers that as they file their income tax returns, due this April 18, to report and pay the amount of use tax owed.
“The dollars lost to California in unpaid use tax significantly impact the State’s publicly funded programs and affect all Californians,” said Yee.
Use tax is what is owed by the consumer on items purchased from out-of-state retailers that do not collect sales or use tax. That includes purchases made through the Internet, mail-order or over the phone.
Use tax has been law since 1935 in California.
The easiest way for a consumer to report and pay use tax is on the Franchise Tax Board State Income Tax return. On the line called “Use Tax,” a consumer should put the amount of use tax owed and send in the payment.
Use tax owed is calculated based on the purchase price of the item and sales tax rate in your local area.
Sales tax rates in California range from 8.25 percent to 10.75 percent, depending upon where you live.
Consumers should retain their receipts and invoices and check to see if sales or use tax was collected at the time of sale.
Consumers should also look for other indications that there is no use tax obligation, or that it has been taken care of, for example a notation that the item was shipped from within the state, or an invoice or statement that California tax requirements have been met.
While the simplest way for a consumer to pay use tax is through the use tax line on the income tax return, consumers may also register with the BOE for a consumer use tax account to report and pay use tax.
Retailers registered with the BOE are required to pay use tax with their regular sales tax returns.
Service industry businesses with gross receipts of over $100,000 are required through legislation passed in 2009 to register with the BOE as a “qualified purchaser” for the purpose of paying use tax.
For more information about use tax, visit www.boe.ca.gov.
Yee was elected to her post in November 2006. Her district includes many of California's coastal counties, from Del Norte to Santa Barbara, and includes the entire San Francisco Bay Area, as well as Lake County.
The five-member California State Board of Equalization is a publicly elected tax board.
The BOE collects more than $48 billion annually in taxes and fees supporting state and local government services.
It hears business tax appeals, acts as the appellate body for franchise and personal income tax appeals, and serves a significant role in the assessment and administration of property taxes.
For more information on other taxes and fees in California, visit www.taxes.ca.gov.