San Francisco Pre-Tax Transit Benefit Ordinance

http://www.sfgov.org/site/uploadedfiles/bdsupvrs/ordinances08/o0199-08.pdf

The San Francisco Transit Benefit Ordinance

On August 8th, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed the most far-reaching transit benefit ordinance in the country.  Employers with 20 or more employees have until January 20^th to put a transit benefit in place or face fines of up to $800. Click here to read the ordinance text.

This law has strong support in the San Francisco business community

Here is what the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce communicated to its members in its weekly newsletter: 'While the Chamber generally opposes mandates on business, the city's newest requirement that businesses with 20 or more employees working in San Francisco establish a program to promote the use of public transit can be an economic benefit. In addition to helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by getting people out of cars and onto transit, the law can be a money-saver for businesses.'

When the Chamber of Commerce states that Commuter Check is a money saver for businesses, they are referring to the fact that employers do not pay payroll tax on any money that employees set aside. The Chamber should know, they have been offering Commuter Check to their employees for over ten years!

____________________________________

Will Wright,  Director of Government & Public Affairs

American Institute of Architects / Los Angeles

3780 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 800, Los Angeles, CA 90010

(213) 639-0777 phone | (213)639-0767 fax

will@aialosangeles.org | www.aialosangeles.org

ü Please consider the environment before printing this email.