NEWSOM BRINGS TAX RELIEF TO BUSINESSES PARTNERING WITH THE CITY ON HEALTHY SAN FRANCISCO
California Political Desk
December 18, 2009
San Francisco, CA— Mayor Gavin Newsom introduced legislation to grant local small businesses a payroll tax credit against the costs of participating in Healthy San Francisco. The legislation will provide businesses with 20-49 employees an annual $2,000 payroll tax credit to help offset the cost of providing health care to workers.
"With this legislation, we are incentivizing and rewarding small businesses who are stepping up to the plate and participating in providing health care to employees," said Mayor Newsom. "The Healthy San Francisco Small Business Tax Credit will help ensure small businesses continue to be an engine of new job creation and economic recovery on the road to achieving our goal of universal health care."
If all qualifying businesses participate, the projected cost would be approximately $4 million, not including administration expenses.
Mayor Newsom also introduced legislation, co-sponsored by Supervisor Eric Mar, to help finance new residential and commercial renewable energy projects and energy and water efficiency in San Francisco. The new San Francisco Sustainable Financing Program (SF2) and San Francisco Sustainable Financing Special District allows building owners to access affordable, city-sponsored financing for energy efficiency, renewable energy and water
conservation improvements.
Solar panels, insulation, water-saving bathroom fixtures, and energy-efficient heaters and boilers are among the list of improvements that could be purchased and installed in residential, commercial or industrial buildings under the SF2 Program.
The program allows the City to lend up to $50,000 per property owner for improvements. The repayment obligation will be attached to the property, rather than the individual, and will be paid back through property taxes over the life of the financing. The program is unique from other cities using property-tax repayment models because unlike other cities using their own investment funds or tax dollars, SF2 will leverage private market lending and available state and federal grant dollars.
Finally, the Mayor introduced the Green Landscaping Ordinance, co-sponsored by Supervisor Carmen Chu, which will integrate standard greening principles with environmental benefits. The legislation will provide clear guidelines in the planning code regarding tree planting; permeability requirements (to reduce water run-off and increase watershed function); decorative fencing; and greening.
"With this legislation, we are incentivizing and rewarding small businesses who are stepping up to the plate and participating in providing health care to employees," said Mayor Newsom. "The Healthy San Francisco Small Business Tax Credit will help ensure small businesses continue to be an engine of new job creation and economic recovery on the road to achieving our goal of universal health care."
If all qualifying businesses participate, the projected cost would be approximately $4 million, not including administration expenses.
Mayor Newsom also introduced legislation, co-sponsored by Supervisor Eric Mar, to help finance new residential and commercial renewable energy projects and energy and water efficiency in San Francisco. The new San Francisco Sustainable Financing Program (SF2) and San Francisco Sustainable Financing Special District allows building owners to access affordable, city-sponsored financing for energy efficiency, renewable energy and water
conservation improvements.
Solar panels, insulation, water-saving bathroom fixtures, and energy-efficient heaters and boilers are among the list of improvements that could be purchased and installed in residential, commercial or industrial buildings under the SF2 Program.
The program allows the City to lend up to $50,000 per property owner for improvements. The repayment obligation will be attached to the property, rather than the individual, and will be paid back through property taxes over the life of the financing. The program is unique from other cities using property-tax repayment models because unlike other cities using their own investment funds or tax dollars, SF2 will leverage private market lending and available state and federal grant dollars.
Finally, the Mayor introduced the Green Landscaping Ordinance, co-sponsored by Supervisor Carmen Chu, which will integrate standard greening principles with environmental benefits. The legislation will provide clear guidelines in the planning code regarding tree planting; permeability requirements (to reduce water run-off and increase watershed function); decorative fencing; and greening.
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