Latest news with #BOTA
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Officials unveil plan to fix dangerous issue with bridge at US-Mexico border: 'You just can't stand it'
After a years-long effort, a major port of entry between Mexico and the United States may indeed see a redesign that could significantly improve air quality and public health for nearby communities. According to local outlet KTSM, the U.S. government is set to modernize the Bridge of the Americas — or BOTA — located in El Paso, Texas. Originally constructed in 1967, the current infrastructure requires an upgrade. As a part of the upgrade proposal and review process, it has been determined that commercial trucks will no longer be able to use the bridge once the project is complete. Funded through the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the effort recently overcame a delay to conclude the required environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act. El Paso Matters reported in March that the delay occurred to ensure compliance with new presidential executive orders. The "record of decision" obtained in recent weeks now concludes the NEPA process, another step in the project moving forward. U.S. Representative Veronica Escobar of Texas, a champion of the redesign, said, "We are one step closer to delivering a transformational investment to our border region, which will lead to cleaner air and a healthier community for generations to come." The decision to eliminate commercial trucks from the port comes in part as a result of the environmental review under NEPA as well as concerns from surrounding communities, which say they have long endured substantial air pollution from idling trucks. San Xavier resident Ricardo Leon, for example, told The Guardian in 2024 that he had developed a cough from the pollution. "On a hot day, it's very, very irritating, annoying. You just can't stand it. Your eyes start burning, you feel it in your throat, you can taste it," he said. Particulate matter pollution from vehicle emissions has been linked to a range of health issues, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, including cardiac conditions, asthma, and premature death in those with heart or lung disease. Commercial vehicles can cause more air pollution than passenger vehicles, and marginalized communities are disproportionately impacted by poor air quality. El Paso-based organization Familias Unidas del Chamizal, which describes itself as "working to organize families in the Barrio Chamizal to develop a community that can defend itself," said in a statement, per KTSM, "Removing the commercial vehicles is a major benefit to the public health of the residents of the Chamizal and communities that neighbor the BOTA who will no longer be subject to the diesel contamination." Eliminating a route for commercial trucks could cause concern about hampering trade, but the nearby Tornillo, Santa Teresa, and Zaragoza land ports of entry will still be open for this purpose. Assessments of the communities around each of these ports were included in the environmental review, or Environmental Impact Statement. According to Land Line Media, which covers the trucking industry, construction for the upgrade "is anticipated to begin in spring 2027, with 'substantial completion' of the project expected in summer 2030." Do you worry about air pollution in and around your home? Yes — always Yes — often Yes — sometimes No — never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. While reducing gas-powered traffic near densely populated communities is a great way to lessen the effects of air pollution on human health, using public transportation, riding a bike, and walking are other methods of cutting back on the heat-trapping pollution driving global temperature rise and extreme weather events. Mass conversion to electric vehicles among commuters as well as commercial transport could also make a big difference going forward. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kansas tax appeal process bogged down by staff shortages, increased filings
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways Kristen Wheeler, chairwoman of the Kansas Board of Tax Appeals, tells the Kansas House General Government Budget Committee about the need for additional funding to manage increased tax appeals and to alleviate staff shortages. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from Kansas Legislature video) TOPEKA — The COVID-19 pandemic, staff turnover and surges in filings created a backlog of cases at the Kansas Board of Tax Appeals, challenging the organization's ability to meet statutory requirements for timely rulings. County appraisers have seen increased delays in resolving some tax appeals, and although they don't blame BOTA employees who are working to clear delays, they are concerned about the effects on taxpayers. 'Given that high property taxes are a major concern for Kansans, this remains a highly sensitive matter for all parties involved,' said Douglas County appraiser Brad Eldridge. 'Providing timely due process in property tax cases is essential, yet it requires additional funding, creating the difficult reality that ensuring fairness and efficiency comes at the cost of more taxpayer dollars.' In January 2025 budget testimony to the Legislature, BOTA chair Kristen Wheeler said in Fiscal Year 2024, the board saw an increase of about 700 cases in its Regular Division, as well as an additional 300 cases in its exemption tax appeals and 300 cases in its property tax appeals. The BOTA comprises the Regular Division, in which cases are heard by an appointed, three-member board, and the Small Claims and Expedited Claims Division, which offers informal, faster processes. More than 11 different kinds of tax appeals are heard by BOTA's board or staff, from property tax exemption requests to homeowners upset about their property taxes and unable to resolve the issue at the county level. Jonathan Roberts, BOTA executive director, said they receive as many as 50 or 60 requests for tax exemption appeals every day. 'It takes at the minimum a half-hour to hear each of those requests,' he said. 'When you start to compound those, it creates a monumental task to get through every one. It's just a matter of the requests coming in exceed the time available to hear them.' Adding resources During the legislative budget process, the state board requested and received $30,000 to hire contract employees to help get caught up. BOTA also asked for $25,000 to increase attorney salaries because they currently are below what their peers receive for similar work. A long-term vacant position contributed to delays. 'The Board is currently recruiting to fill a vacant staff attorney position; the Board would note that position has been posted since the fall and to date, despite active advertising, the Board has yet to have a single applicant,' the budget request said. 'The Board notes the starting salary for that position is below other starting-level attorney positions advertised for other state entities.' Roberts said a new information technology system being installed is expected to help with processing. 'We're engaging in some things within the office to help with workflow and things like that, but given the sheer number of some of the cases that we have in front of us, it's not going to clear them all up right away,' Roberts said. Depending on the cases, the board faces statutory requirements regarding the time to hear and decide cases. In small claims, cases must be heard within 60 days of filing and decided within 30 days after that. So far, BOTA staff have been able to meet that deadline, Roberts said. In the Regular Division, the board must render a decision after a hearing within 14 days, although requirements vary depending on the case. In testimony, BOTA reported the percent of 14-day summary decisions issued timely in the Regular Division, with a goal of 100%. After three years of missing that goal, the organization is moving back on track. In FY2019 and FY2020, BOTA issued decisions within 14 days 100% of the time. In FY2021, they dropped to 93%, and in subsequent years 91%, 90% and 99%. BOTA reports 100% for FY2025 so far. Lucky DeFries, a Topeka tax attorney who has been trying cases in front of the board since the late 1970s, said his clients haven't faced significant delays. He and opposing counsel often reach agreement in the case, so it moves through the system quickly. DeFries remembers when there were 58 employees at BOTA. Today, there are 16 when they're fully staffed, he said, noting the retirement of a longtime attorney and another staff member on medical leave. 'We've seen across the country steady increases in the valuation of residential property. That's where a lot of the appeals come from,' DeFries said. 'The numbers of employees have gone down precipitously and the case load has either increased or stayed pretty static.' County impact The delay in hearing tax appeals affects county operations statewide. Eldridge said the slow process consumes time and financial resources. The challenges began during the COVID-19 pandemic. 'Schedule delays were a result of hearing cancellations in 2020,' Eldridge said. 'In 2020-2021, there was turnover in BOTA positions, and they went several months without having a full board to hold hearings. BOTA essentially did not hold any Regular Division hearings for about one year.' If BOTA finds in favor of the individual, organization or business in a tax appeal, the county must refund any taxes that were paid, based on that appeal. Eldridge said interest is paid on refunds, with the percentage varying depending on the year the appeal was filed. In Crawford County, Jan Meredith, office supervisor, handles tax exemptions. Like Eldridge, she understands the issues that have been delaying tax appeals and is sympathetic. Still, she doesn't recall delays as long as they have been in the past two to three years. Tax appeals filed in 2023 have recently come through the system and been cleared, she said, and that puts her small county near to caught up. Meredith tells taxpayers filing an appeal that it likely will take four to six months until they receive decisions from BOTA, so any appeals filed in the past six months she doesn't consider delayed. Larger counties tend to see a more significant impact. In its budget report, BOTA said most of its small claims appeals in FY2024 were received from Johnson County (576), Morris County (345), Sedgwick County (448) and Wyandotte County (608). 'Douglas County has matters before the Regular Division of BOTA going back to 2021 that are scheduled to be heard this year,' Eldridge said. In Johnson County, spokeswoman Anne Christiansen-Bullers said appeals go back more than seven years. 'The Kansas Board of Tax Appeals has approximately 1,500-1,600 pending appeals involving property in Johnson County for tax years 2018-2024,' she said. Tough to determine It's difficult to determine exactly how far behind tax appeals are, said Terri Yamashita, BOTA board secretary. More complex cases, which are often appeals over large tax amounts owed or commercial cases, sometimes have multiple attorneys involved and many filings. For instance, in the regular hearing division where cases go before the BOTA, commercial business owners often want to get their own appraisals done, she said. That can cause delays. BOTA staff normally try to schedule a hearing within at least five months of the filing, but it could be seven to eight months, depending on the case. Some cases lingering in the system are delayed because parties don't get the proper information submitted or for reasons out of BOTA's control, Yamashita said. Each type of tax appeal has different statutory requirements to meet. The number of appeals asking for tax exemptions is one of the more challenging areas, although those don't have to go to a full board hearing, she said. Exemptions and the majority of tax grievances don't go to full hearings but are managed in the small claims division. Grievances include cases that are about clerical errors or penalties that have been assessed on someone who didn't file taxes on time, she said. Those issues absorb staff time. BOTA recently contracted with an additional staff person to help clear exemption cases. In testimony, the BOTA board said that its hearings of Regular Division cases suffer when they receive influxes of small claims cases because staff attorneys shift to do that work. 'Not only do these staff attorneys have less time and resources available to work on other matters, but they are unavailable or difficult to schedule to assist with Regular Division hearings,' the testimony said. 'Undoubtedly these factors all contribute to greater than necessary resolution times for matters in the Regular Division.'
What's On
04-03-2025
- Entertainment
- What's On
5 delicious reasons to head to Jumeirah Golf Estates
Sponsored: No membership required… Did you know that Jumeirah Golf Estates is home to five exceptional dining destinations? The culinary haven, which is home to the prestigious DP World Tour Championship, is just 15 minutes away from Dubai Marina and Al Barsha, making it worth the visit for foodies. Here's what you'll find at Jumeirah Golf Estates Ramadan at Layali Al Qamar Experience the serene beauty this Ramadan at Layali Al Qamar. At the enchanting outdoor venue, you can indulge in a Middle Eastern iftar buffet with ouzi, live barbecue, and refreshing beverages under the moon and the stars. There's a live oud musician every Friday and Saturday. The iftar buffet is Dhs150 per adult with selected beverages, and Dhs90 per child ages five to 12. Find out more here. Bussola Bussola offers authentic Italian cuisine curated from fine Italian ingredients, traditional recipes, and modern culinary techniques. Diners can choose to sit indoors in the stylish interiors or outdoors overlooking the golf course. It's a great option for a leisurely lunch with family and even a romantic dinner. If you love brunch, try the Sunday Brunchissimo. @ Crafty Fox This gastropub is a great spot to watch the game and come together with other fellow sports fans, families, and friends to enjoy great food. Try their Quiz Night or Bingo Night on Thursday, and their Sunday Roast. @ Kasturi For a truly British-Indian dining experience, Kasturi offers sweeping views of the landscape and is an amazing spot for sundowners. They also have Iftar sharing menu throughout the holy month, perfect for groups of four or more. @kasturidubai BOTA Want to start your day off right? Head to BOTA – a popular breakfast spot serving up all the classics plus healthier options, including a range of low-GI desserts. There's a great selection offered for lunch with Asian-inspired dishes. And if you're a real sushi fan, try their Sunset Sushi offer for Dhs95 every Friday afternoon, or Sushi & Bubbly for Dhs295. @ For more information or to book, visit > Sign up for FREE to get exclusive updates that you are interested in
