Connecticut
Lawmakers Pass Contracting Reform Bill
State lawmakers finished up their special session last week, passing a lingering bill that set standards for state contracts with private businesses. The contracting reform bill, which has been about 10 years in the making, establishes a board that will oversee the contracting process. It also creates a procedure for privatizing state functions. That process includes conducting a cost benefit analysis to ensure that state employees won't be able to provide the same services less expensively.
Source: Associated Press

New York
Spitzer Says No Tax Raises for Budget Gap
Gov. Eliot Spitzer (D) renewed his pledge not to raise taxes in an effort to improve the business climate in New York despite a looming state budget gap. "In fact, we will continue reducing taxes," Spitzer said in a speech before 400 people opening the annual meeting of The Business Council of New York, the state's most powerful business lobby. The comments came as the Spitzer administration is crafting its 2008-09 state budget proposal.
Source: BizJournals.com 
 
Florida
Business Offers Conditional Support of Homestead Exemption
A powerful group of business leaders pledged support last week for a proposed super homestead exemption, but told House Speaker Marco Rubio (R-Miami) that much more needs to be done to cut property taxes. In return for businesses support of the exemption, Rubio said he would promote tax cuts for business next year. Rubio's homestead plan, which goes before voters on Jan. 29, would provide a new exemption of up to $195,000 on the value of a $500,000 home.
Source: The St. Petersburg Times
 
Tennessee
Governor Presses for More Tourism Dollars
Speaking in Chattanooga to about 500 tourism industry leaders, Gov. Phil Bredesen (D) pressed for efforts pushing tourism in rural areas in keeping with his new focus to spur more jobs and development in those parts of the state. He said that with volatility in the economy and the housing market along with high gas prices, it's important for the state and tourism officials to take advantage of every opportunity to woo visitors.
Source: Chattanooga Times Free Press 
 
Michigan
Unemployment Rate Hits 14-Year High
Michigan's unemployment rate in August hit a level not seen in nearly 14 years, as the stagnating job market spurred tens of thousands of working-age men and women to leave the state. Massive auto buyouts and a sharp decline in residential construction were cited as factors for the state's jobless rate reaching 7.4% last month, according to data released by the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth. Michigan lost 28,000 jobs in August alone.
Source: The Detroit News

Ohio
States Remain Split Over Internet Sales Tax
Officials from 22 states remain split on how to collect state sales taxes on Internet purchases following a two-day meeting in Ohio last week. States that have joined the "Streamlined Sales Tax Project" require all delivered merchandise to be taxed according to where it is delivered, not where the store is located. However, several large states including Ohio still use a store's location to determine the sales tax on delivered goods. Switching to a delivery rate, they contended, would hurt localities with businesses that do a lot of deliveries. Individual states currently have the right to levy taxes on purchases if the company has a store in the state.
Source: The Kansas City Star 
 
Nevada
Unemployment Rate Rises to 5%
Southern Nevada casinos, home builders and temporary employment agencies continued trimming their workforces in August, a state agency reported. Statewide, seasonally adjusted unemployment was the highest since November 2003 at 5% compared with the national unemployment rate of 4.6%, according to the Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation. The Silver State's jobless number was 4.9% in July and 4.2% a year ago, shortly after the economic slump began.
Source: Las Vegas Review Journal

Utah
Business Leaders Push for Sales Tax Hike
The Northern Utah Transportation Alliance, led by the chambers of commerce in the three counties, kicked off a campaign pushing for voter approval Nov. 6 of a 1/4 cent hike in the sales tax to fund road and transit projects. The ballot initiative will be called Opinion Question One. For the average Utah family, the tax boost would amount to $8 to $10 a month—a small price to pay for greater mobility, business leaders said.
Source: The Salt Lake Tribune

July 2006 - Virtual Phone Systems