CLEARLAKE
Measure V helps to improve city-owned roads and delivering on the promise of better infrastructure.
Approved by voters in 2016, Measure V has already improved over 53 miles of roadway, thanks to the dedicated funding and a Citizens Oversight Committee ensuring transparency and trust.
At a city council meeting, leaders shared updates on Measure V’s progress and unveiled plans for the next seven years of road improvements. The proposed projects include treatments like chip seal, full-depth reclamation, and mill-and-fill (grind and pave). The plans are contingent on funding availability, but they reflect the city’s ongoing commitment to use our resident’s tax funds wisely.
Measure V stands as a symbol of Clearlake’s promise and rising potential. With each project, the city moves closer to a future of smoother, safer city-owned roads for all residents. We will have improved over 53 miles of roadway by the end of 2024, paving the way for safer and smoother travel ahead.
Citizens Oversight Committee ensures Measure V progress
Since its approval by Clearlake voters eight years ago, Measure V has driven the city’s road improvement progress by funding critical road improvements. To ensure transparency and accountability, the Citizens Oversight Committee reviews how these funds are spent, keeping the community’s promise of better roads moving forward.
The committee consists of five members serving four-year terms. Meeting annually each October, they assess expenditures and progress to confirm that Measure V funds are used effectively. We appreciate their dedication and scrutiny of how the funds are spent and are planned to be spent.
Current Members:
- Sheryl Almon (Appointed by Russ Cremer)
- Conrad Colbrandt (Appointed by Russ Perdock)
- County Supervisor Bruno Sabatier (Appointed by Dirk Slooten)
- Jim Scholz (Appointed by Joyce Overton)
- Ray Silva (Appointed by David Claffey)
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WASHINGTON
Thompson, legislators announce unanimous Senate vote to pass Fire Victims Tax Relief Bill, send to President’s desk
Today, Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA-04) and Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) announced the Senate’s unanimous vote to pass the bipartisan Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act (H.R. 5863). The bill includes Rep. Thompson’s legislation that will exempt thousands of qualified wildfire victims in California from having to pay federal income tax on their settlement money or pay tax on attorney fees included in the settlement. This relief will 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. “The Senate’s unanimous vote to pass tax relief for fire survivors is an important step towards recovery for victims in my district and across California. Today’s overwhelming and bipartisan vote to deliver relief to victims was made possible by Senator Padilla and I thank him for his dedication and partnership in getting this passed.”
“Disaster settlement funds are not income, they’re compensation for what wildfire survivors have lost,” said Senator Padilla. “When a wildfire survivor is combing through the ashes of their former home, the last thing they should have to worry about is how they’re going to pay taxes on any settlement they receive. Our bipartisan, bicameral bill will ensure the tens of thousands of Californians impacted by the Butte, North Bay, and Camp wildfires receive full and proper compensation to rebuild their lives after heartbreaking disaster.”
H.R. 5863 passed the Senate today by unanimous consent. The bill will now go to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law.
BACKGROUND
Rep. Thompson serves as the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Tax for the Ways and Means Committee. He introduced the original legislation with Rep. Doug LaMalfa (CA-01) in the House of Representatives to provide tax relief to PG&E fire victims in the 117th Congress and has worked with Senator Padilla and Rep. LaMalfa to advance the legislation.
Earlier this year, Rep. Thompson and Rep. Greg Steube (FL-17) led a bipartisan group of 218 Members of Congress to successfully advance a discharge petition which forced House Speaker Mike Johnson to bring the Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act to the House floor for a vote. The historic advancement of Rep. Thompson and Rep. Steube’s petition marked only the third time a House discharge petition had succeeded in the 21st Century.
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.
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KELSEYVILLE
Holiday dinner December 6
Come enjoy a chili or chowder dinner before and following the “Christmas in the Country” Parade, Dec. 6, 2024.
Kelseyville Presbyterian Church , 3rd and Church St. Kelseyville, CA
Includes; Bowl of chili chowder, corn bread, coffee or cider, pumpkin cake
Cost: $15 for adults and $12 children under 12
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