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October 6, 2009 Welcome to the e.Geo!Welcome to the e.Geo - CalGeo's new electronic newsletter, delivered each month directly to your inbox. You'll still receive the printed Geogram three times per year, but this new tool will help us keep you better informed of the latest trends and studies, industry events, legislative updates, and industry news that matters to geotechnical professionals. I hope you find it informative and helpful. If you have any questions, comments or feedback, please email me here. Thanks for reading!
John Hoobs, President |
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Legislative Update Proposed service tax a potential threat to geotechnical professionals Governor Schwarzenegger has announced he will declare a special session of the California Legislature in October to consider the state's "Blue Ribbon Commission on the 21st Century Economy" proposal. This plan includes a Business Net Receipts Tax (BNRT) that would require a new state tax be added to all invoices for engineering and other services. In return, corporate income tax would be eliminated and personal income tax would be lowered, all in an effort to reform California’s tax system, which currently depends too much on corporate taxes and high-income individuals.
The BNRT proposal currently lacks the analysis and specificity for proper review, so CalGeo and ACEC California support the efforts of Californians Against Higher Taxes to halt its advancement through the legislative process. This proposal could potentially pose a threat to our businesses and serve as an unfair tax on our clients, so CalGeo will remain engaged and will keep our members updated as more information becomes available. Click here to learn more and voice your opinion to decision-makers in Sacramento. |
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Call for Member News: Share Your Success! Are you or your firm doing something worth noting? Did you win an award, get a promotion or finish a recognizable project? If you’re making news, we want to hear about it. Send us your stories to cgea@comcast.net and we’ll post them in this space in upcoming editions. Items should be 55 words or less. |
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Member News Former CalGeo Board Member Mike Miller of Stoney-Miller Consultants recently delivered key testimony in support of the City of San Diego's defense of a liability lawsuit stemming from a 2007 landslide in La Jolla. Miller's expert testimony helped relieve the city of responsibility for the damage to 65 homes, saving taxpayers millions of dollars. Read more here. Affiliate member Geopier Foundation Company-West is proud to announce it is changing names to GeoTech Foundation Company-West in recognition of the firm's expanding product line. All other aspects of the company will remain the unchanged. |
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Technical Corner Retaining wall survey generates interesting findings, new research program CalGeo conducted a survey of member firms in late 2008 to better understand member awareness of and standard practices for dealing with new code requirements related to retaining walls. The results, which will be posted shortly on our Web site, indicate there is a broad approach to design methodology as well as selection of peak-ground accelerations for retaining walls. |
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Safety First Take Precautions to Prevent Heat Illness Summer may be waning, but heat illness is still a major safety hazard for California’s geotechnical professionals. Most heat illness can be prevented, so here are some simple steps to help keep you safe from the dangers of the sun.
For the complete article by Judy Kerry of the State Compensation Insurance Fund, click here. |
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