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SACRAMENTO – State Controller John Chiang on Thursday released his monthly report covering California’s cash balance, receipts and disbursements in January.
Total receipts for the month were $714.5 million, or 8.1 percent higher than estimates found in the Governor’s proposed 2011-12 State Budget.
ales taxes were up $192.4 million (19.2 percent) in January, but corporate taxes were down $69.2 million (-16.4 percent).
“January revenues rose above expectations, but unemployment has remained in the double digits. And while the stock market was up, January corporate taxes were down,” said Chiang. “These mixed messages tell us we still have a long way to go. We urgently need a solid budget with real solutions for California.”
In the month of January, personal income taxes came in $628.4 million above (8.8 percent) estimates. Part of this jump was due to lower-than-expected taxpayer refund payments, possibly because taxpayers are filing later than usual.
The State Controller’s Office expected to issue $380 million in the month of January, but only $197 million was sent to taxpayers.
The state faced an $18.5 billion cash deficit on January 31. That deficit was covered by $8.5 billion of internal borrowing – short term loans from special funds – and $10 billion of external borrowing.
The controller also launched a new section of his Web site Thursday showing basic information on State revenues and program funding over the past 10 years.
State Finances 101, along with January 2011's financial statement and the summary analysis, can be found on the controller's Web site at www.sco.ca.gov.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake and Mendocino County Departments of Agriculture, in conjunction with the Lake and Mendocino County Farm Bureaus and the University of California, is offering a one-day training session for persons who handle and apply pesticides.
This will be a hands-on style training covering six major areas of concern for pesticide applicators.
The training is being offered in both English and Spanish.
Every participant will receive a written training record (as required by law) for the three pesticides that will be covered. Four and a half hours of continuing education credits will also be available.
The training will be held at the Lake County Fairgrounds (Baldwin Pavilion), 401 Martin St., Lakeport on March 3.
The cost is $35 for Farm Bureau members or $50 for non-members.
The fee includes refreshments, lunch, safety glasses and gloves, handouts and other materials.
Space is limited and pre-registration is required.
Registration fees received after Feb. 18 will be increased by $5.
Special thanks to sponsors of the training go to American Ag Credit, Western Plant Health Association, Gil Schoux Plumbing, Kelseyville Lumber, Amerigas and State Compensation Insurance Fund.
To register for this training, please call the Lake or Mendocino County Agricultural Departments, the Lake or Mendocino County Farm Bureaus.
Registration forms are also available at the four locations. Please call 707-263-0911 for more information.
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WALNUT CREEK, Calif. – Although demand for gasoline in the U.S. is dropping, the price at the pump is rising, largely thanks to uncertainty about international affairs.
The Golden State’s average gas price has jumped by six cents over the last month, according to the latest report from AAA Northern California, which tracks gas prices as a service to consumers.
According to AAA’s latest report, all but two Northern California metro areas tracked by AAA saw a single digit increase at the pump over the past month.
California’s average gas price is the third highest among all 50 states.
The Golden State’s average for a gallon of regular, unleaded gasoline is $3.41, up six cents since last month’s report on January 11. For perspective, that’s 44 cents higher than California’s average price on this date last year, when it was $2.97.
Northern California gas prices are now averaging $3.42, up seven cents from last month. In the San Francisco Bay Area, motorists can expect to pay an average price of $3.48, which is a 7-cent increase.
The national average price of $3.12 is up by three cents, which is 47 cents more than the national price on this date last year, when it was $2.65.
“Recent uncertainly about the political turmoil in Egypt has helped to make investors nervous, forcing up the price of crude oil,” explained AAA Northern California spokesperson Matt Skryja. “However, over the past week investors finally took notice that the United State’s oil reserves had risen, showing a decrease in demand. This helped to stabilize the price per barrel.”
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, weekly averages for gasoline demand have been dropping for the last six weeks. Just this week, traders begrudgingly agreed that market fundamentals – hefty crude supply and weak demand – needed to be accounted for and, while keeping one eye firmly trained on Egypt, oil prices began to retreat.
This downward pressure on crude prices was compounded by strength in the U.S. dollar versus the euro. When the dollar strengthens, investors, including those holding foreign currencies, are less likely to invest in commodities, including crude, which pressures prices down.
The least expensive average price in Northern California can be found in Marysville and Chico where regular is $3.34.
Of all the metro areas in Northern California where gas prices are tracked by AAA, Eureka’s average price of $3.62 is the highest. It’s also the highest price reported by AAA in the lower 48 states.
The least expensive gasoline in the country is found in Casper, Wyoming, where for the second consecutive month the average price of gas is $2.68.
Wailuku, Hawaii, holds the dubious crown for the highest average price in the nation, at $4.01 per gallon.
One way consumers can reduce the amount of money they spend on fuel is to shop aggressively for the lowest price. AAA now offers text alerts via mobile phone for low gas prices in your area. Sign up today at www.aaa.com/gas.
AAA’s Fuel Gauge Report is the most comprehensive retail gasoline survey available, with over 100,000 self-serve stations surveyed everyday, nationwide. Data is provided in cooperation with OPIS Energy Group and Wright Express LLC.
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SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Food and Agriculture is announcing seven vacancies on the California Organic Products Advisory Committee.
The committee advises the CDFA secretary on current issues related to organic food production and makes recommendations on all matters pertaining to the California Organic Program.
The vacancies include: one consumer representative, three producer alternates, one processor alternate, one retail representative alternate, and one technical representative alternate.
The technical and consumer representatives must not have a financial interest in the direct sale and marketing of organic products.
The term of office for committee members is three years. Members receive no compensation, but are entitled to payment of necessary traveling expenses in accordance with the rules of the Department of Personnel Administration.
The California Organic Program is responsible for enforcement of federal and state law governing organic production. These statutes protect consumers, producers, handlers, processors and retailers by establishing standards under which fresh agricultural products may be labeled and sold as organic.
The California Organic Program is funded entirely by industry fees and assessments.
Individuals interested in being considered for an appointment should send a letter of consideration and include a letter of recommendation from the industry.
Nominations will be accepted until the positions are filled. Applications should be sent to California Organic Program, 1220 ‘N’ Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 or emailed to
For further information on the California Organic Program and committee vacancies, contact David Carlson at 916-445-2180.