California Surveyors Forums

Bought a few bundles of lath the other day and noticed a new charge on the invoice - a 1% lumber assessment fee! That was a surprise.

http://www.boe.ca.gov/industry/lumber_products.html

PB

Governor Moonbeam strikes again.

Amazing how many new taxes were hidden in that bill.
Thank the dumb voters of CA that gave CA elected crooks the ability to raise taxes with a simple majority instead of the old 2/3 majority.

Add in the $1 business tax fee. How many on here have been forced to buy multiple business licenses.

Don't tell me that dollar doesn't add up - as some on here say "It's only a dollar" if that's true why does Sac need it more than me.

That lumber tax will probably add 1-2 months payments on a new house.

And if the contractor orders his lumber from a out-of-state supplier he still has to pay the 1%.

I stand corrected - This was EMERGENCY legislation.

I agree the state of public finance (taxes) is a mess.

But we are achieving the right wing dream of user fees. Funny though when they start yelling, "NOT ME I DIDN'T MEAN ME!!!"

Despite the wishes of some, government is necessary and useful and the middle class wouldn't exist without it. It has to be paid for and isn't getting cheaper just like everything else.

The old saying is, "Don't tax me, don't tax thee, tax the fellow behind the tree."

The new tax is covering all of the fees associated with Timber Harvest Plans not just the fees charged by DF&G (now Department of Fish and Wildlife) and extends THPs to 5 years with 2 years of possible extentions. However, it is a double edge sword. Many agencies were underfunded and thus understaffed. Now that they have a revenue source they are filling positions that have been vacant for years. The newly fillied positions will focus on THP inspections. Pre-harvest inspections are commonly attended by CALFIRE, DF&G, Department of Mines and Geology, Water Quality, and members of local Indian Tribes concerned about archeological preservation.

"........the tax will help increase lumber harvest capacity......"

It is really nice to know that the tax increases lumber capacity. Somehow or another that doesn't seem to compute in my brain.

I guess if I wanted to increase my capacity to get more surveying accomplished, and therefore make more money, then the legislature should figure out a way to tax me an additional one percent tax on my end product fee.

Makes sense to me.

not the one being taxed, that should be okay. We should have a level playing field. If I can produce a piece of lumber for less money than you, then I guess I should be taxed so that you can compete or whatever. That's only fair.

While the explanation by Woodcutter makes sense, I no longer trust any govt agency to pass a bill that is limited to it's title.

I am also tired of hearing from govt for the last 50+ years that we are under funded and under staffed and money will cure everything, I pay a heck of a lot more in taxes and fees than I did even 30 years ago and govt is bigger and less efficient than it was then. At this point I just have to mention our connection with Prometric.

Here are the costs to build a 2000sf house from my cousin who is a building contractor in Penn Valley, CA

Lumber w/out siding 20k
Hardi siding 6k
Trusses 7-10k

That's $400. and I am sure that the cabinet, door and molding makers are paying the 1% somewhere.

Lets not forget the 5 cent fee per foot of carpet.

CAs economy is on life support, moonbeam says we have a surplus**, and all Sac can do is raise taxes and invent more fees.

**If you believe that I have a bridge to sell you. He only declared a surplus so they could spend spend spend.