California State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA A new state audit says California’s efforts to combat homelessness have been “fragmented” and too “disjointed.”
Auditor Elaine Howell notes that California has spent $13-billion over the past three years to tackle the growing problem of homelessness, but the state continues to by far have the largest homeless population in the nation.
The audit recommends that California create a single entity to oversee homeless programs and to develop a coordinated plan. The state also lacks a centralized way to track spending, so its possible that some efforts are duplicative.
The Associated Press reports that roughly half of the nation’s 211,000 residents living “unsheltered, on the streets or in vehicles” are in Cal
California State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA Mother Lode Republican Senator Andreas Borgeas says he is hoping that businesses and non-profits which receive COVID-19 grants or loans will not be hit with a big tax bill.
Currently, grants provided by the state’s COVID-19 small business relief grant program are considered taxable income. Borgeas has introduced Senate Bill 265 which would make grants for businesses and non-profits impacted by COVID-19 non-taxable.
“People, businesses and entities that have received assistance during the pandemic should not be penalized by the state,” said Senator Borgeas. “SB 265 would assist struggling businesses that received COVID-19 relief funds by assuring that these grants and/or forgivable loans are tax-free.”