WASHINGTON – This week, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04) applauded the House of Representative’s vote to pass the Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act (H.R. 5863). The bill includes Rep. Thompson’s legislation that would exempt thousands of qualified wildfire victims in California, including PG&E fire victims, from having to pay federal income tax on their settlement money or pay tax on attorney fees that are included in the settlement. This relief would also apply retroactively to qualified victims.
“Fire survivors have been through enough in the wake of losing their homes and livelihoods to wildfires—it’s wrong to tax them on the settlement money meant to help them rebuild their lives,” said Rep. Thompson. “Today’s bipartisan vote to provide tax relief to fire survivors is an important step towards recovery for those who lost homes, businesses, and loved ones and sends a clear message to Senate Republicans: It’s time to work with us to pass much-needed relief for disaster victims.”
Rep. Thompson serves as the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Tax for the Ways and Means Committee. He introduced the original legislation to provide tax relief to PG&E fire victims in the 117th Congress and has worked to advance the legislation ever since.
The Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act excludes from taxpayer gross income, for income tax purposes, any amount received by an individual taxpayer as compensation for expenses or losses incurred due to a qualified wildfire disaster (a disaster declared after 2014 as a result of a forest or range fire). It also excludes relief payments for losses resulting from the East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment on February 3, 2023 and designates Hurricane Ian, among other federally declared disasters, as a qualified disaster for the purposes of determining the tax treatment of certain disaster-related personal casualty losses.
The bill now goes to the Senate for a vote before going to President Biden’s desk for his signature.
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LAKE COUNTY
Ruddock Borre appointed Special Districts Administrator, effective July 8, 2024
The County of Lake is excited to announce Robin Ruddock Borre has been appointed Special District Administrator. Ruddock Borre’s appointment is effective July 8, 2024. She will succeed Scott Harter, who is retiring from County service following more than twenty-seven years’ dedicated service with public agencies, including the City of Lakeport and County of Lake.
Ruddock Borre was born and raised in Lake County, and brings more than twenty-five years of governmental management and administrative experience. She has a strong theoretical foundation in Business Administration, and decades of progressively responsible practical experience in Public Works and Administration roles; she has been recognized by peers and leaders as an exceptional fiscal administrator, capable of managing all aspects of infrastructure finance and capital improvements.
Immediately prior to accepting her new role with the County of Lake, Ruddock Borre served as Director of Public Works and Community Development for the City of Rio Vista. This, “working director,” role encompassed departmental budgeting and purchasing responsibilities, as well as oversight of operations including maintenance, water and wastewater operations, an airport, and planning, building and business licensing-related functions.
“We are very pleased Ms. Ruddock Borre is coming home to Lake County as Special Districts Administrator,” exudes Bruno Sabatier, Chair of the Lake County Board of Supervisors. “Her broad-based experience will make her an effective collaborator across County Departments. Lake County has deep infrastructure-related needs, and funding those is critical to responsible growth; Ms. Ruddock Borre has the background to be a strong contributor to those efforts.”
“My family has deep roots in Lake County, and I am honored the Board of Supervisors has trusted me with this crucial leadership position,” notes Ruddock Borre. “I look forward to applying the organizational, communication and administrative skills I have gained over my career to developing creative solutions to meet the needs of Lake County’s communities.”
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