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About What's happening. (Eugene, OR) 1982-1993 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 17, 1987)
Spray Plan Commissioners that advisor Berger’s State of Washington roadside vegeta tion management program is second to none in the entire U.S., in terms of percentage of budget used for her bicide purchase—a whopping 48 percent. Attorney C. Peter Sorenson, who represents ROADS, successfully countered the Commissioner’s move to resume herbicide spraying in October. “Ironically, it is the manufacturers’ instructions for application of some of these chemicals that enabled us to have a potential lawsuit,” says Soren son. One of the herbicides that was scheduled to be used in October specifically indicates not to apply it Continued from page 3 where runoff is likely to occur. “This is ridiculous when you consider that the stated intent of the Public Works’ proposed spray program is to keep vegetation off of roadside ditches. What are ditches for? For runoff.” “Right now the Commissioners have agreed to give us 60 days’ notice of intent to resume spraying ... but that's conditional,” Sorenson says equivocally, “on whether they decide to tell us.” Jan Wroncy sees another political reality of the situation—population density. “They wouldn’t ever consider trying to touch Eugene . . . within the city limits, with a spray program,” she observes, referring to intense and rapid opposition that would mobilize. THE BEST OF (sort of) Eugene's own original comedy group now appearing on videocassette To order call: 345-3455 S ' INDEPENDENT VIDEO SERVICES Wce V Holiday Price!! Holiday Price!! $19.95 (VHS-60 min.) 401 E. 10th Ave., Suite 160 Eugene, OR 97401 ■FINANCE Keeping More of What You Earned by Bere Lindley and Julia Lucich D ecember presents a special op portunity for you to make a gift to yourself in the form of reduced income taxes. This is accom plished through tax planning. Year end tax planning consists of analyz ing your financial and tax situation late in the year and then surveying the available techniques for opportunities to lower the income tax bill. At this time of year, two basic strategies are employed for reducing income taxes, whether the taxpayer is an individual or a business. One is to plan the timing of income and deduc tible expenses. For example, should your final quarterly payment of esti mated state income tax be paid this month or next month? The other basic strategy is to plan the structure of ma jor transactions so they will qualify for available benefits. An example of this would be considering whether to structure a consumer loan as a home equity loan in order to ensure full deductibility of the interest expense. As a very general rule, most tax payers will want to defer the receipt of taxable income until January, and pay deductible expense in December rather than January. There are two reasons for this. First, it results in a postponement of tax by one year. Se cond, tax rates for 1988 will be lower than in 1987, causing deductible ex penses to be more rewarding this year than next, and income to be less cost ly next year than this year. The excep-. tions to this general rule can be very important and should not be overlooked. While bearing in mind that you must determine whether your situa tion is an exception to the general rules, here are a few tactics you can consider: • If you have a bonus coming at year end, try to get it deferred to January. • If you are in business, delay the mailing of invoices and statements so that the income will not arrive until January. This will not work if you are an accrual basis taxpayer. • Pay deductible items ahead of schedule, in December rather than January. This would include business expenses and itemized deductions for individuals if your itemized deduc tions exceed the standard deduction. The standard deduction for 1987 is $2,540 for a single person and $3,700 for a married couple filing jointly. • Itemized deductions that might be accelerated include state income tax payments, property tax payments, contributions, medical bills, and employee business expenses. Medical and employee business expenses, among others, must exceed a certain percentage of your income to be deductible. Therefore, there is no point in accelerating these items unless you know that the minimum will be exceeded. • If you are sitting on a stock port folio that is worth less now than when you bought it, you need to make some calculations concerning when and how much to sell. There can be some excellent opportunities in this area, but the prospects are very sensitive to your individual circumstances, which makes generalized advice difficult to offer. [Bert W. Lindley, CPA is a partner in the accounting firm of Blackburn & Lindley, which offers Tax, Planning, Estate, Accounting, and Management Advisory Services. Julia Lucich is an agent/Registered Representative of the New York Life Ins. Co. /New York Life Securities Corp., specializing in Business Insurance and Estate Plan ning.} A Northwest Futon Christmas. The twelve days before Christmas Folks all through the town Were scurrying for presents And at the mouth down. When—Hark!—came a message That challenged the weary To arrive at the Big Day Relaxed and quite cheery. I It was: Northwest Futon is having a sale! Each day from the 13th they’re taking off ten Or twenty percent on the items you yen: Sunday the 1 3th is lucky for you Who’ve been eyeing our furniture; bedframes, too! The 14th—that’s Monday—our special is sheets; They’re flannel and cotton and warm up your feets. On Tuesday the 15th we open our doors With tatami and rugs to cover your floors. On Wednesday the 16th you may want to wonder Which warm, comfy comforter you’d rather be under. Thursday’s the day for beautiful rugs; The 17th’s for pottery vases and jugs. Saturday the 19th come in for a while, Especially if you like jewelry with style. - The 20th: Sheets from England will keep you all snug at night, While Monday you’ll glow by our lamps’ very soft light. This is the countdown—it’s now or it’s never— So we have surprises both practical and clever. Kimonos are lovely for men and for women; Antique or flannel, they’re perfect to lounge in. Come Wednesday, come put our pillows beneath you; For some lucky folks that’s the last shopping they’ll do. Every year there are always some lateniks Still doing shopping the eve of St. Nick’s; if you are among them (and chilled by your blunder). Our warm snuggly comforters are great to crawl under. Our sale, though not divinely inspired, is meant to save people From shopping dog-tired. It’s time of the year to gather the spirit And envision peace so the whole world can hear it. Special Sale Hours: Mon-Fri 10-6/Thurs 10-7/Sat 10-5/Sun 12-4 N O R 7 H V E 5 7 FUTON ( O MV P A N y 1030 Willamette St. 342-1762
