California lawmakers are fighting over a bill that would study replacing the gas tax with a road use charge. Republicans call it a sneaky plan to raise taxes. However, the bill would only require a state agency to collect and summarize existing research. California gets most road repair money from gas taxes. Officials say that revenue keeps shrinking as cars burn less fuel and more drivers switch to electric vehicles. Some rural Republicans and conservative groups back the study. They say road work already gets delayed and rural areas get shortchanged. Democrats fear the political blowback, even as local leaders say the state needs options.
Renters facing high costs are turning to "rent now, pay later" services like Flex, Livble, and Affirm. These services let renters split rent payments, which they say will help them manage cash flow. However, consumer advocates warn the products often act like short-term loans with high fees, sometimes leading to triple-digit interest rates. Kellen Johnson used Flex to split his $1,850 monthly rent into two payments when he worked as an independently contracted delivery person for Amazon. He paid over $33 monthly in fees. Critics argue these services don't solve the issue of affordability in the rental market and may lead to higher rents.
Starting this year, California consumers will pay a 1.5% fee on all products with an embedded battery under a law that aims to curb the risk of battery fires and increase the recycling of lithium batteries. The surcharge, capped at $15, expands a recycling program that has been collecting computer monitors and TVs for two decades. Consumers will pay the fee when buying any product with an embedded battery, whether it's rechargeable or not. Under harsh conditions at recycling and waste facilities, lithium-ion batteries can catch fire and even explode. Supporters of the law say a small fee to fund proper collection is cheaper than fires that can cause millions of dollars in damages.
By JOSH FUNK and RIO YAMAT AP Transportation and Airlines Writers
The federal government shutdown has entered its second week, and already shortages of air traffic controllers have strained operations and disrupted flights at some U.S. airports. The situation may well get worse if the shutdown continues and employees start to miss paychecks. And there is no way to predict what airports might have problems on any given day. So be sure to check your flight's status before you head to the airport. If your flight is canceled, airlines will rebook you on a later flight. If you no longer want to take the trip, you should be able to get a refund. But each airline's policies can differ, and airlines are not required to pay cash compensation.
Some segments of the U.S. restaurant industry don't support President Donald Trump's proposal to eliminate federal taxes on tips. They say it would help too few people and obscure bigger issues in the way tipped workers are paid. The Independent Restaurant Coalition, which represents nearly 100,000 restaurant and bars, has appealed to Congress to reconsider the proposal, which is part of the president's spending bill. Even some workers who rely on tips say they oppose making them tax-deductible. For now, making tips tax-free appears to have broad support among lawmakers. The House included it in a tax cuts package approved last month. The Senate Finance Committee passed a modified version on Monday.
Belmont continues grappling over a key revenue source dependent on state reimbursement, which is critical to closing the city’s general fund deficit.
A Biden administration ban on so-called "junk fees" took effect Monday. In response, Ticketmaster said it will start displaying the full price of a ticket as soon as U.S. consumers begin shopping. Ticketmaster, long a subject of complaints about its hidden fees, was among those targeted by the new rule, which was announced in December by the Federal Trade Commission. The rule requires ticket sellers, hotels and others to disclose processing fees, cleaning fees and other charges up front. Ticketmaster said it will also tell shoppers where they are in line when they log in to buy tickets to an event.
