Senator advances new levels of oversight
Sen. Lois Wolk (D-Davis) is pursuing a performance-based oversight on the state’s tax expenditures. This is an effort to pursue performance measurements of at least $45 billion in tax expenditures, which is over half the expenditures from the state’s tax general fund. Wolk is the chair of the Senate’s Committee on Revenue and Taxation and has been working on legislation for performance based budgeting and obligatory performance measurements of all state expenditures.
This year, Wolk will pursue legislation to require that all future tax expenditures carry specific goals and end dates. Her legislation will also aim to require performance review of every program and require the governor to include a list of tax expenditure and associated costs along with the budget proposal.
The Taxation and Revenue Committee will meet to consider California’s Enterprise Zone program on Mar. 10 at 1:30 p.m. in Room 3191 of the Capitol.
Russell bike path to be under repair
During a storm late last year and damage from an AT&T utility crew’s attempts to replace utility poles, part of the Russell Boulevard bicycle path near Davis was closed off to pedestrians and bicycles.
Although it is currently closed, repairs will begin once weather conditions permit. The Yolo County Planning & Public Works Department received a $139,535 settlement check from AT&T to rebuild the path’s foundation and surface.
AT&T was trying to fix telephone service when equipment damaged the path. The Yolo County bike path along Russell Boulevard begins at the intersection at County Road 96 for 2,000 feet toward Davis. Signs are posted to direct cyclists on Russell Boulevard to reach the other side of the closure.
California consumers gain access to used-vehicle information
Last month, the DMV lifted consumer access restrictions to the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System.
People interested in buying used cars can now access a vehicle’s history, using the U.S. Department of Justice’s vehicle-history database. Rep. Mariko Yamada (D-Davis) enacted AB 647, which was sponsored by Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety.
Aimed to help California buyers make decisions based on safety, the bill allows states, law enforcement agencies, as well as consumers to verify and exchange data.
The bill aims to curb vehicle theft, salvage fraud, odometer fraud and other crimes.
POOJA KUMAR can be reached at city@theaggie.org.
