Legislature(2005 - 2006)BELTZ 211
04/06/2005 01:30 PM Senate COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB158 | |
| SB114 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 158 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| = | SB 114 | ||
SB 158-MUNI TAX ON STATE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS
1:34:46 PM
CHAIR GARY STEVENS announced SB 158 to be up for consideration.
1:35:00 PM
SENATOR CHARLIE HUGGINS, Sponsor, said the issue is that some
construction subcontractors have had local sales taxes imposed
on Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities
projects. The primary contractor doesn't pay sales tax on these
projects, but that immunity doesn't carry over to the
subcontracts.
In the instance of the Nome Airport Project, a subcontractor was
assessed sales tax in excess of $20,000. The tax was not
anticipated or therefore it not considered in the bid.
If this practice continues, subcontractors will pass the costs
along to the state in the form of higher bids. While all
municipalities don't assess this sales tax, the policy needs
statewide consistent.
1:38:59 PM
DEBORAH GRUNDMANN, Staff to Senator Huggins, reiterated some
subcontractors in certain areas of the state had local sales tax
levied on DOT funded projects. The tax was levied on the value
of the subcontract and not on food, lodging and incidentals.
1:40:26 PM
CHAIR GARY STEVENS said he wanted a clear understanding of what
is taxable and what is not. He heard that a subcontractor would
pay tax on food, lodging, and car rentals, but he questioned
whether tax would be due on local purchases of electrical
supplies and lumber.
MS. GRUNDMANN said each municipality has its own ordinance so
the tax could be different in every municipality. According to
the contractors, they pay tax on the purchase of incidental
materials. This bill isn't designed to change that. SB 158
addresses local sales tax levied on the value of subcontracts
for state projects.
1:42:24 PM
SENATOR THOMAS WAGONER said subcontractors in the Kenai
Peninsula Borough that are licensed through the state and as a
tax-exempt business through the borough, have the ability to
purchase job related items locally without paying sales tax. At
the end of the job a tax is due, but the cap is $25 or 2
percent. In the Nome instance, there was no cap.
1:43:14 PM
SENATOR HUGGINS said that until recently, the practice has been
that state contracts are not taxed. Now that some municipalities
have started to impose a tax on subcontractors, the Legislature
has to pass this bill or the state will pay the tax in the form
of higher contract bids.
1:44:02 PM
CHAIR GARY STEVENS opened public testimony.
1:44:29 PM
STEVE BOYD, Alaska Chapter, National Electrical Contractors
Association, stated that the association feels that the scope of
state projects logically links subcontractors to the general
contractor so the local tax exemption that applies to the
general contract should also apply to subcontract values.
Contract bids are typically solicited from general contractors
for a total product, which includes subcontractor work.
Subcontractors do work for the state through a state established
conduit. They are bound to the general contractor in much the
same way and with the same language that the general contractor
is bound to the state and should therefore receive the same tax
exemption.
The association learned that subcontractors were assessed local
sales tax on work done on state airport projects in Nome and
Sandpoint, which sets up an inequity between subcontractors and
the general contractor. It is the association's goal to create a
consistent and equitable practice statewide. Clarification of
the statute would be in the best interest of the state and the
industry.
1:47:30 PM
CHAIR GARY STEVENS asked how much sales tax was collected on the
Nome airport project.
MR. BOYD said he didn't have that information.
SENATOR JOHNNY ELLIS said that although he liked the direction
of the bill, he questioned why some subcontractors bill through
the general contractor and some don't.
MR. BOYD reiterated the general contractor typically provides a
price for the entire project and solicits bids from
subcontractors. In some instances a project might only include
electrical work or mechanical work and then the subcontractor
would work directly for the state, municipality of federal
government.
SENATOR WAGONER suggested the defining point of the discussion
is who does the certified payroll.
MR. BOYD said that would be an obligation on the contract.
SENATOR ALBERT KOOKESH made the point that if a contractor did a
non-state job, then sales tax would be paid.
MR. BOYD agreed that the issue relates just to state contracts.
SENATOR KOOKESH said he wanted that on record to make it clear
that contractors or subcontractors that aren't doing state jobs
pay municipal taxes if there are any.
MR. BOYD agreed this relates to state contracts.
SENATOR GARY STEVENS remarked this could be a problem for a
number of reasons. If a subcontractor bids a project and isn't
aware that tax is due it's unfair. Neither is it fair if some
subcontractors include the tax in the bid and others don't.
MR. BOYD agreed this creates uncertainty and an imbalance in the
playing field.
1:52:23 PM
DAVE LANCE, Diamond Electric General Manager, said his company
worked on the Nome project. The project was bid in 2001 and it
happened in the summer of 2002. As part of the process, the
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT/PF)
approved Diamond Electric and the other subcontractors to
provide bona fide subcontract work.
Part way through the project the City of Nome issued a sales tax
bill to Diamond Electric on the full amount of its $400,000
subcontract. The company purchased about $75,000 in goods and
services from the city and paid sales tax on those local
purchases as anticipated. What they didn't anticipate was the
tax bill on the amount of the contract.
Because this was a change in conditions, they submitted a bill
to the state for reimbursement, but that went nowhere. It became
a legal issue and finally, to cut their losses, they settled out
of court and paid the city $20,000 and $11,000 more in attorney
fees.
He pointed out that they were actually double taxed because they
paid tax on incidental goods and services and then paid tax on
the total project.
CHAIR GARY STEVENS summarized that they paid tax when they
purchased incidental amounts of cement, lumber, room and board,
and then they paid an additional 5 percent tax on the entire
project.
SENATOR KOOKESH noted the effective date is immediate so it
wouldn't resolve any past problems.
MR. LANCE agreed.
SENATOR KOOKESH said he wanted that to be part of the record
because he didn't want subcontractors looking back and seeking
reimbursement.
MR. LANCE replied he realizes he wouldn't be reimbursed.
1:58:01 PM
DENISE MICHELS, Mayor, City of Nome, stated that the city
opposes the bill. From the city perspective this is a local
government option for getting revenue. Since 1990, revenue
sharing has been reduced from $600,000 to nothing. In fact the
city is looking at operating at a deficit this year.
She explained that the city receives revenue from property tax
and sales tax and charging sales tax to subcontractors is one
way for the city to stay afloat financially. Removing this
option would impose one more cut on the city. She asked the
committee to view this as a local option and not pass the bill.
2:00:22 PM
CHAIR GARY STEVENS remarked it's a bit of a double-edged sword
because if subcontractors were to include tax in their bids then
the community would ultimately receive less work on a project.
MAYOR MICHELS agreed that the situation is difficult. She
explained that DOT takes a 5 percent cut before project funds go
out and although the city believes in partnering, it needs to
maintain local options and the citizens of Nome choose to tax
subcontractors.
2:01:52 PM
SENATOR BERT STEDMAN said Sitka has a $1,000 cap on sales tax
and he was curious whether Nome has a cap.
MAYOR MICHELS replied the tax is 5 percent of purchases and for
building projects it's a percentage based on the amount of the
project.
SENATOR STEDMAN questioned how much the sales tax would decline
if the bill passes.
MAYOR MICHELS estimated between $100,000 and $200,000 and added
that Nome is lucky to get one or two state projects every three
to five years.
SENATOR WAGONER stated he didn't know about the fairness of
taxing the state when it put $8 million into benefiting Nome. He
suggested this is a protection for small contractors as much as
a protection for the state.
MAYOR MICHELS responded it is part of due diligence for the
contractor to call the city and make sure you know what to
expect when bidding a project. She reiterated this should be
considered a local option.
CHAIR GARY STEVENS said he heard Mr. Lance say that he wasn't
taxed on previous projects in Nome but that part way through
this project he was taxed. He asked whether the city shouldn't
assume the responsibility of letting contractors know that they
would be taxed.
MAYOR MICHELS replied the option has been on the books.
CHAIR GARY STEVENS asked if the city simply hadn't collected the
tax in the past
MAYOR MICHELS replied she wasn't sure; she was elected just
three years ago.
2:06:18 PM
SENATOR KOOKESH thanked Mayor Michels for the job she was doing
and made the point that being mayor is a difficult and unpaid
job in a small community. A lot of communities are closing
because they can't afford to operate so he doesn't blame the
city for looking for additional revenues.
He asked that the record reflect the clarification that very
little general fund money goes into airports in the state. It's
mostly federal dollars that build airports.
SENATOR WAGONER said he doesn't care whether it's federal or
state dollars because they are all taxpayer dollars. There's a
big difference in the amount of work that gets done in a
community if tax is figured into the bid. He reiterated the City
of Kenai has a $25 tax cap.
2:08:16 PM
SENATOR STEDMAN opined it's not equitable or good public policy
to structure the sales tax with no cap and to target
subcontractors on state projects. Certainly the lack of revenue
sharing and dropping revenues are cause for concern and
legislators need to work on that as a policy issue.
2:10:37 PM
CHAIR GARY STEVENS thanked Mayor Michels for serving as mayor.
2:10:58 PM
KEVIN RITCHIE, Executive Director of the Alaska Municipal League
(AML), commented everyone recognizes that there are issues on
both sides and the point Senator Stedman brought up about
helping communities is the work of this committee. Since last
year, ten cities have stopped city government operations.
Although it isn't clear why the cities no longer exist, it is
clear that the work that the city governments did isn't being
done now unless a tribe or other organization took over. Based
on current information, another 25 cities will stop government
operations by next year.
With the loss of revenue sharing and the loss of capital
matching grants coupled with fuel and insurance increases many
communities can no longer afford to operate. Looking from larger
to smaller cities you can see different aspects of sales tax. In
some larger cities, getting sales tax isn't key for operating
revenue, but for smaller communities that have fewer options
you'll see fewer caps.
AML would like municipalities to have the broadest purview for
creating a local tax structure that works. As Mayor Michels
said, the community made the decision to tax subcontractors. He
suggested that might be the best forum to resolve an issue such
as this.
Although it's unfortunate that the contractor didn't know about
the tax, that isn't the real issue. The real and important issue
is the relationship between communities and the state.
He pointed out that the State of Alaska represents the largest
local tax exemption in the state and if it operated like a
business, it would pay about $60 million in property tax on the
various state facilities and services in communities around the
state. But with no revenue sharing there is no general fund
offset for the costs that communities have for fire, police and
roads. Although that might not be relevant to the bill, it is
relevant to the work the Legislature is doing.
2:15:47 PM
CHAIR GARY STEVENS noted that if no changes are made then nearly
every community could impose a local tax. He questioned whether
it wouldn't amount to a reduction in projects throughout the
state if all communities levied sales tax on subcontractors.
MR. RITCHIE agreed and added the City of Nome charged
subcontractors 5 percent, which is equal to the administrative
charge DOT/PF took on the contract. DOT/PF charges the
administrative fee to help cover department expenses and Nome
has a sales tax to help to pay the cost of running Nome. It's a
choice that communities make.
He suggested this wouldn't be an issue in all communities,
particularly the larger ones. Most large communities have a cap
so even if they taxed the entire contract it wouldn't amount to
much. That's a local choice that Nome, Sand Point and Unalaska
have made. There might be a better way, but it's tied in the
financial relationship between the state and its communities.
2:18:23 PM
CHAIR GARY STEVENS said if no change is made then all
subcontractors would have to be made aware of the tax in
different communities.
MR. RITCHIE agreed.
JIM DOKOOZIAN, General Manager of Dokoozian and Associates,
stated support for the bill. The company bid on a federally
funded FAA contract in Nome and included sales tax in the bid.
The FAA neglected to do the same and had to go back to the
federal government to get more money to pay the tax.
Dokoozian paid sales tax on the total price of the project
including subcontractor amounts. Nome not only raised the tax
more than once during the job, it also levied a tax on the
subcontractors, sub-subcontractors and the suppliers, which
amounted to a double tax. He suggested that the bill should make
it clear that sub-subcontractors and suppliers would be included
as well.
SB 158 would clarify the issue, add certainty and level the
playing field among contractors.
2:22:36 PM
CHAIR GARY STEVENS asked about the change in tax during the
contract.
MR. DOKOOZIAN explained that the FAA reimbursed the company only
after they were educated to the fact that this was an unknown,
unanticipated condition that fit the definition of a change
order.
2:23:31 PM
JOHN WHEATLY, Senior Vice-President of Marsh USA and Surety
Manager, spoke on behalf of Associated General Contractors in
support of SB 158. They would like to see uniformity across the
state in the application of taxes on state projects. It doesn't
matter whether it's federal or state money, tax dollars are
being spent to improve the community and to tax those tax
dollars flies in the face of good public policy.
2:25:30 PM
CHAIR GARY STEVENS asked Senator Huggins if he had further
comments.
2:25:47 PM
SENATOR HUGGINS said this isn't just the practice in Nome it's
part of a strategy that is based on legal advice. His concern is
threefold. The rules aren't clear, there will be an escalating
affect, and it's just not fair.
2:28:25 PM
SENATOR KOOKESH asked if he thought there was a loophole that
should be closed.
SENATOR HUGGINS replied he introduced the bill after it came to
his attention as the Chair of the Transportation Committee. He
reiterated his three concerns.
SENATOR KOOKESH asked if he believes he is closing a loophole
regarding taxation of subcontract work on state projects
SENATOR HUGGINS said yes.
SENATOR KOOKESH said he wanted that point to be clear because
Nome is taxing subcontractors according to their interpretation
of the law. It's incorrect to insinuate that anyone did anything
wrong; this is a loophole.
SENATOR HUGGINS replied it's part of a legal strategy based on
legal advice. He acknowledged that Nome didn't do anything
wrong.
SENATOR KOOKESH said his point is that Nome has every legal
right to tax subcontractors now because the law is unclear. The
intent is to clarify the law.
SENATOR HUGGINS replied that's the "fogginess factor" and most
people don't agree with you. His point is that if there is any
theme that will create an uncertainty for a business or the
community then the Legislature needs to clear that up. His fix
is to make both contracts and subcontracts exempt. "It's a foggy
area."
SENATOR KOOKESH replied that is the point exactly; Nome isn't
doing anything wrong. It's a foggy area and the sponsor is
trying to close it.
SENATOR HUGGINS agreed that Nome is doing nothing wrong.
SENATOR KOOKESH said he'd like to review the 5 percent
administrative charge the state takes because $350 million on a
DOT/PF contract amounts to a huge amount of money. Legislators
should find out how DOT/PF is benefiting from that 5 percent
charge because they might be able to operate on just 3 percent
and the other 2 percent could be used for a community dividend
program.
SENATOR HUGGINS said he could look at that, but philosophically
he opposes taxing a visitor.
2:33:33 PM
SENATOR STEDMAN remarked there is a low correlation between the
5 percent DOT/PF administrative fee and a sales tax structure to
generate money to run a community. Taking an administrative fee
is a standard way of operating government so costs are allocated
to the appropriate divisions.
CHAIR GARY STEVENS called a brief recess from 2:34:57 PM to
2:36:48 PM
CHAIR GARY STEVENS reconvened the meeting and asked for a
motion.
SENATOR STEDMAN motioned to report SB 158 and attached zero
fiscal note from committee with individual recommendations.
2:37:08 PM
SENATOR KOOKESH objected to make a comment.
I think there is a loophole here and we're fixing it
and I think everything that people like Nome did was
certainly within the law, but now that the basic
premise is that when the state has a contract, that
all subcontractors should be exempt just like the
general contractor. It was our fault for having that
loophole in there. I think we're fixing that loophole
and people like Nome are going to understand that that
door is closed and they're going to have to look
farther away to raise revenues. ... I'm going to vote
for this to move on to the next committee because I
believe that we have a job to do as Senators and that
is to close that little loophole because I think state
contracts have to have a certain degree of standard.
SENATOR KOOKESH removed his objection.
2:38:09 PM
CHAIR GARY STEVENS thanked the Senator for the explanation and
said everyone understands that Nome did nothing at all wrong.
SB 158 and attached fiscal note moved from committee.
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