Income tax
Californians can donate return to aid Salton Sea.
Californians worried about the faith of the Salton Sea will now have the opportunity to contribute in the state’s efforts to mitigate the receding of the Salton Sea.
The California State Tax Board confirmed a “Revive the Salton Sea Fund” will be included in the state income tax forms for 2017 tax filings. California income taxpayers have the option to voluntarily direct some or all of their refund toward Salton Sea restoration efforts.
“There was a discussion of whether the taxpayer could begin to donate this year or until the following year, we’re happy that the tax board announced they were set up to collect those donation starting in 2017,” said Salton Sea Authority Executive Director Phil Rosentrater.
The Salton Sea Fund was created by Senate Bill 1416 which was signed by Gov. Jerry Brown on Aug. 26. The money collected will be under the control of the California Natural Resources Agency which is currently overseeing the Salton Sea Management Program. The funds collected will be used in outreach efforts and could help with the construction of the shovel-ready projects at the Salton Sea identified by the CNRA in April.
“Nowhere else in California will taxpayers find such a unique opportunity to achieve good, where a single investment can generate so many integrated benefits,” Rosentrater said. “Salton Sea projects are designed to deliver multiple benefits to address an ecosystem and economy suffering at a magnitude and scale found nowhere else in this great state.”
Rosentrater said that other similar state initiatives have raised a few hundred thousand dollars in the past.
A separate program initiated at the state level two years ago was the “Save the Salton Sea” specialty license plates, which have raised money for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Rosentrater said that a similar project was very helpful for Lake Tahoe restoration, he said that although those programs may not generate a lot of revenue they are essential for the public exposure and outreach they provide regarding pressing issues Quantification Settlement Agreement.
Once the mitigation water deliveries stop it is expected that the Salton Sea will begin to dry at a much faster pace.
“The Salton Sea Authority is working together to address the changes that will come as a result of the largest water transfer in U.S. history, we have work cut out for us but we’ll continue to work to get the resources needed to turn it around.”