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YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 18, No. 44
Retailers may Picking pumpkins get tax break
October 28, 2016
Treat Your Vehicle Right
by Kyle Szymanski Staff Writer
In an effort to encourage business development in Brentwood, the city council recently outlined a plan to cut sales taxes for large shopping centers making improvements for new businesses or expanding leasable space for existing ones. The plan would possibly allow centers that make such improvements to receive a 20 percent sales-tax rebate on any sales taxes above $500,000. A second option offers a 60 percent rebate, on sales tax above $500,000, to centers that construct new leasable space or infrastructure that costs more than $1 million, such as parking structures. Centers would receive an additional 10 percent rebate if they add a new tenant that occupies 50,000 square feet or more. These agreements are set for a maximum of 15 years. “I think this tool is best viewed as our way to monitor our significant retail centers and keep an eye on job growth and vacancy rates,” said Brentwood City Manager Gus Vina. The shopping centers currently eligible are The Streets of Brentwood, Lone Tree Plaza, Lone Tree Center and possibly Sand Creek Crossing. The city began exploring the plan years ago when see Tax page 30A
This week’s special edition has plenty of advice on keeping your vehicle in tip-top shape. Page 1B
Relax, Enjoy And UnWined
Photo by Tony Kukulich
L
ola Bonneau and her family didn’t let a little rain get in the way of a recent visit to Smith Farm to pick out some Halloween pumpkins. The soggy weather has been a welcome visitor to East County and the perfect counterpart to the spirit of the season. Happy Halloween!
BBID detachment will aid fire district by Kyle Szymanski Staff Writer
Additional funds will soon begin flowing into the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District (ECCFPD), but that’s not necessarily good news for agricultural-water users. The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors recently decided to detach portions of Discovery Bay from the Byron Bethany Irrigation District (BBID), freeing up property-tax funds for the fire district. Until now, the BBID overlapped six tax zones in Discovery Bay, with the district receiving about $700,000 annually from the town, despite not
“ … the transfer will provide the struggling fire district the additional revenue that is crucial to preserving fire suppression.
”
Julie DiMaggio Enea, deputy county administrator providing any service. The detachment agreement, which was finalized on Oct. 18, allows the board to transfer $730,000 in property taxes to the struggling fire district annually, beginning in fiscal year 2017 to 2018. The district, which was eight stations strong in 2008, is now down to only four stations serving 105,000 residents over
almost 250 square miles. “The transfer will have no net impact on the county’s fees or services, because the county is just passing the property tax from BBID to the fire district,” said Senior Deputy County Administrator Julie DiMaggio Enea. “However, the transfer will provide the struggling fire district the additional revenue
crucial to preserving fire suppression and investigation services for East County residents and businesses.” In response to the detachment, the BBID, which serves parts of Alameda, Contra Costa and San Joaquin counties across 47 square miles and 30,000 acres, recently increased their agricultural water usage rates for the first time in more than two decades. The rates increased from $20 per acre-foot – or 326,000 gallons – to $65 per acre-foot. “The agricultural rates were tripled due to the detachment,” said BBID General Manager see BBID page 30A
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Contra Costa event participates in Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
New owners are making popular Discovery Bay wine bar a go-to place for a good time. Page 6A
Falcons Soar Over Patriots
Freedom High School takes a commanding lead against Heritage at 48-14. Page 21A Business..............................15A Calendar.............................31A Classifieds..........................26A Cop Logs............................. 15B Entertainment..................10A Health & Beauty...............12A Milestones.........................25A Opinion...............................18A Pets......................................13A Sports..................................21A
Sciences Expo
go to news/press releases The Plasma Sciences Expo Student Days will be taking place on Nov. 3 and 4.