Visalia Sales Tax Growth Near 16 Percent
Visalia sales tax figures reported for the latest four quarters and released in December 2012 show cash receipts of $18 million vs $15.5 million for the four quarters reported in December 2011. The $2.5 million increase amounts to about 16%. City finance chief Eric Frost says the figures don’t tell the whole story since the cash receipts are three quarters of what the city ends up receiving.But the tend lines are clear,sales tax is up and up more strongly than in the past 5 years.
The number actually fell during the recession year of 2008 -2009,stayed level from 2009-10 and climbed from $14 million to 15.5 million by December 2011. Now that pace has accelerated.
The $18 million figure compares to a budget amount of $16.4 million.But if the multi-year recession had not pulled the rug out on sales growth in the city, the figure should be closer to $21.8 million says the city using a straight trend line from 2006.
Both retail sales,building materials,and vehicle sales -the three major sectors have shown recovery in the past year.Car registrations in California have increased 25% says the California New Car Dealer Assn.
Lemoore Council To Vote On Pro-Gun Resolution
Below is the text of a staff report regarding a resolution in support of the second amendment and against proposals pending in Congress to limit gun ownership to be heard by the Lemoore City Council February 5. Senator Dianne Feinstein has been leading the charge to ban so called assault weapons and large ammunition clips as well as proposing universal background checks.
During the December 18, 2012 Council Meeting, Council Member Rodarmel requested
that an item be placed on a future agenda to consider a resolution in support of the
Second Amendment to the United States Constitution. The Second Amendment was
adopted on December 15, 1791 as part of the Bill of Rights and the original hand-written
document, which is on display at the National Archives in Washington D.C., reads as
follows:
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State,
the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
The purpose of the Second Amendment is to protect the right of the people to possess
and carry firearms. This interpretation was established by two landmark Supreme Court
decisions. In 2008, District of Columbia v. Heller, the Court ruled that the Second
Amendment protects an individual’s right to possess a firearm, unconnected to service in
a militia, and to use that arm for traditionally lawful purposes, such as self-defense within the home. However, the ruling was silent as to whether the law pertains to the States.
In 2010, McDonald v. Chicago, the Court ruled that the Second Amendment applies
equally to the States and Federal Government. The following link provides commentary
on the background leading to the Second Amendment, the Court cases, definitions, etc.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution.
Attached for Council’s consideration, is Resolution No. 2013-01, which supports the
Second Amendment and the rights of our citizens to keep and bear firearms for the
defense of life, liberty, and property as intended by the Founding Fathers of the United
States of America, and which opposes any action that infringes upon the rights listed.
For many, the ownership of firearms also provides for the personal enjoyment of target
practice, competitions, hunting, and collecting of guns.
Also attached is a letter written by U.S. Marine Joshua Boston to Senator Dianne
Feinstein opposing gun control, and news reports and a letter from Fresno County
Sheriff, Margaret Mims, to the White House expressing her opposition to “useless gun
control legislation.”
Tulare County Hotels Enjoy Good Holiday
Hotel occupancy was up in the Tulare/Visalia area in December according to Smith Travel, the second strong month in a row. Rooms sold were up 8.6% year over year and occupancy was up 7% to 44.2%.
Not that it has been easy in this business. The Comfort Suites 50 room hotel in Tulare is on the market for $2.99 million after a foreclosure action.