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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The first week of March is National Weights and Measures Week, which is dedicated to recognizing the role and importance of the weights and measure officials around the nation.
Few people know that such officials exist, but everyone who purchases products that are sold by weight, volume, length or count benefits from the work of the weights and measures officials.
Not surprisingly, the practice of verifying the measure or weight of a product and the devices used to conduct the measurement is one of the oldest professions.
Since the first trading of goods from one person to another, there has been a need for a third party to certify that a measured or weighed commodity is what both parties agreed to.
The weights and measures official has become crucial to economic stability by enforcing measurement standards, developing testing procedures and certifying measurement equipment.
In Lake County, the Department of Weights and Measures is part of the Department of Agriculture. They work with the states’ Division of Measurement Standards (DMS), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the National Conference on Weights and Measures (NCWM).
A great example of how weights and measures officials are working to serve the public is found in the gold buying industry.
In today’s economy, many people are buying and selling gold in order to take advantage of record-high values.
As one might expect, there are also unscrupulous dealers taking advantage of the naiveté about how gold is valued and weighed.
These folks often set up shifting “storefronts” in hotel lobbies and private homes. They sometimes used fraudulent scales and purposely undervalue the gold that a person brings in to sell.
In an effort to prevent fraud in gold sales, the NCWM released an alert to consumers titled, “Gold Prices Create Seller Beware Market” which can be found at www.ncwm.net/sites/default/files/about/press/2011/11_10_24_Gold_Rush.pdf.
This alert provides critical information to consumers on how to determine the value of their gold before they get to the store.
Another critical area of weights and measures efforts continues to be the measure of gasoline and diesel fuels.
As prices continue to climb, weights and measures officials work to ensure that every gas pump is tested and held to strict tolerances of accuracy.
Beyond the device itself, samples of fuel are routinely collected and analyzed, price signs are verified, and required services are provided.
All of these measures are conducted to ensure that consumers can continue to buy their fuel with confidence.
As always, the Lake County Department of Weights and Measures is working hard to make sure that transactions in Lake County are fair and equitable.
This year, officials have inspected hundred of gas pumps, scales, propane meters and many other types of devices.
Additionally, officials have conducted dozens of site inspections at local businesses to ensure that check out registers continue to ‘ring-up’ the correct amount, preventing buyers from possibly being overcharged for the goods they purchase.
In Lake County, each citizen pays about 70 cents per year for the weights and measures program.
The Department of Weights and Measures can be reached at 707-263-0217.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Mental Health Department, Division of Alcohol and Other Drug Services will hold a free Licensee Education on Alcohol and Drugs (LEAD) seminar presented by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control on Tuesday, Feb. 28.
The seminar will be held from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at Robinson Rancheria Resort and Casino, located at 1545 East Highway 20, Upper Lake.
The seminar will give participants:
- Information on what is acceptable I.D.; the best way to check I.D.; how to refuse service; signs and prevention of illicit drug activity, and more.
- The facts about your criminal, civil and ABC liability.
- An update on California alcohol laws.
- Helpful handouts.
If you would like to attend, please call Jim Gessner or Carrie White at 707-994-6494 to make reservations.
You also may email your request for the training to
On the day of the training, please bring a copy of your ABC license and plan to arrive a few minutes early to sign in, as the program will begin promptly at 9 a.m.
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SACRAMENTO – Now that most Californians have received their tax materials and are getting ready to file their 2011 personal income tax returns, the Board of Equalization (BOE) wants to remind taxpayers not to forget to include the “use tax” they owe on purchases made from out-of-state online and mail order retailers, or purchased from an out-of-state retailer and brought back into California.
To help make the reporting process more convenient, the BOE, working with the California Franchise Tax Board, has made available an easy-to-read reference guide, the Use Tax Lookup Table.
Californians will find the table included in the instructions that accompany tax Forms 540, 540A, and 540 2EZ, and on the BOE Web site at www.boe.ca.gov/pdf/2011UseTaxTable.pdf, providing a simple way to estimate use tax, based on California Adjusted Gross Income, on any number of non-business purchases less than $1,000 each.
What is “use tax”?
In its simplest form, it is tax due on any item bought from an out-of-state retailer that will be “used” in California that if purchased in the state would have been subject to sales tax. Generally, the use tax rate is equal to your local sales tax rate.
While all Californians have an obligation to pay use tax, the revenue it generates for the state and local communities helps to fund important services all Californians enjoy, such as public safety, education, and transportation.
Use tax is not an “Internet tax.” It has been on the books since 1935 to protect in-state retailers from the competitive price disadvantage held by out-of-state retailers who do not collect California tax.
The Use Tax Look-Up Table is estimated to bring in $10.6 million annually, and is an important tool to help close California’s $1.1 billion use tax gap.
For more information on sales and use tax rates, visit www.boe.ca.gov/sutax/pam71.htm, or call 800-400-7115.
Use Tax Look Look-Up Table: http://www.boe.ca.gov/pdf/2011UseTaxTable.pdf.
Use Tax Frequently Asked Questions: http://www.boe.ca.gov/sutax/faqusetax.htm.
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LAKEPORT, Calif. – Watershed Books, owned and operated by Cheri Holden, has just been named “Business of the Quarter” by the Lakeport Main Street Association (LMSA).
The downtown store was nominated by customers and fellow businesses who commended Holden on her regular in-store special events and her community involvement.
She serves on the executive board of the Lake chapter of the Sierra Club, is the coordinator of the Tule Film Festival, is a member of the Clear Lake Advisory Committee and says that her chief passion, aside from books, is for the county to have a healthy lake.
Holden was awarded a certificate of excellence and a lovely scarf by LMSA Board of Directors president, Barbara Breunig, at a recent Main Street mixer.
Watershed Books will also be featured in a video on the LMSA Web site and in a front page article in the next LMSA newsletter.
Watershed Books is located at 305 N. Main St., Lakeport, offering a wide selection of new, used and rare books.
For more information visit www.watershedbookco.com or call 707-263-5787.
The Lakeport Main Street Association is a nonprofit organization which follows the National Trust Main Street program.
LMSA’s mission is to improve the economic health of downtown Lakeport, preserve its historic beauty and foster its small town friendliness.