Ekmanian, Copsey Give Trade Talks

Posted by Steve Schumann 
 

It's a tradition of the Grover Beach Rotary Club to give the floor to its members to talk about their profession. Today, it was Certified Public Accountant Bruce Ekmanian and Grover Beach Police Chief Jim Copsey's turn to enlighten the room.

 

Bruce Ekmanian shed light on a tax topic - Tax Time.  As an accountant/CPA for 35 years, he knows every year you pay your taxes. This year the IRS is trying to get their computer up by the right time.  He advised all business people in the room that they should not be using the little box on the form or the little people on the corner with their outfits; you should be using a CPA to do your tax return.

Bruce is available to all; give him your card or your e-mail and he will send you a organizer that makes you think about your own tax situation. Works out well for everyone, he said.  If you do your own tax return know what you can deduct.  A new client? Bruce wants to see their last 2 years tax returns. 

This year foreclosures and short sales:  with your personal residence it isn't a huge tax problem. It won't be as bad as you think.  Sales taxes are part of a deduction; it depends.  Keep what you've spent all year and there is a table that the IRS allows.  They know what the rate is for where you live.

Question:  Do you have to claim your pool winnings? (Chief Copsey brought the question to the floor.)   You should report all of your income.  What about mileage?  51cents a mile in 2011. 50 cents in 2010.  Keep your readings; keep track of your mileage.   Jot down your odometer; create a diary.  There is a mileage app for your phone.  Mr. Kelsey asked, "Can I depreciate the limo for business? "It is new to you but there are limitations for used equipment.  But you have gas and insurance on it. 

 

Grover Beach Police Chief Jim Copsey reported that part one crimes (rape, aggravated assault) went down 1% in the city.  Exactly 1,050 people were arrested this year on different crimes, brecause our men in blue are out there putting in the time.  With less staff, the officers are still out there doing their job.  Moving traffic violations are up, we continue to double that, as it's pretty good odds when you are stopped you will or will not get a ticket.  They can make a judgment and decide if they can do the education or if they need a citation so you can get an education.

Grover Beach probably nets between $30,000-$35,000 for parking and moving violations.   It is never been about making money. Tickets are written to make sure the streets are safe.  Accidents are down, a pretty safe city with only 190 accidents reported without any significant or major accidents.  The city's speed limit is 35. 

The calls into the station average 18,000 a year, about 1500 a month.  Some calls tend to resolve a disagreement; Alzheimer calls; calls about vehicles repossessed;  family calls. Sometimes the Chief sees a name and says, who was that? It is not a Rotarian: that's good!  The Grover Beach City Manager Bob Perrault added that California is very "slow payer," and as a result revenue is lagging.  Chief Copsey says more the 50% of the time a crime relates to alcohol or drugs.  The kids like drugs, he added, but didn't get into the marijuana issue. 

If anyone does get into trouble in GroverBeach, the department keeps it as private as possible.  There is a lot that is public record because the newspaper will get the information.  The force does everything they can to keep it quiet.  When you see something that you think is suspicious the Grover Beach Police Department absolutely wants to know, no matter how unusual.  There is a Community partnership site that is a part of the city website, and Chief Copsey recommended that we visit it. He also clarified that there is an officer assigned to each part of the city and they take personal pride in manning that area.