Countdown has started

[Carl Childress]

Originally posted by SanDiegoSteve

Carl,

You probably have bargaining power over them, while we here have none. There are several umpire groups here which, pooled together, could easily handle the 81 high schools in San Diego County. They would tell us to take a hike, and we would be out of luck for working any games, since we already had the college ball yanked away years ago.

We have two associations and we combined to make the same request. The other associations are also underpaid. Get together.

In many parts of the US, the umpires associations inform the schools what the fee will be that year. It shouldn't be any other way.

That's the basis of independent contractring. When I need plumbing, I call a guess what, and he tells me how much I will pay if I want it done.

Hey, did you know that in my town, plumbers all chage the same for like repairs?

Gosh, wonder how they know what other plumbers are charging.

[briancurtin]

Originally posted by SanDiegoSteve
You guys with the big travel fees have it made. Here we get $2 a game added for travel, with exceptions for out of town games, which have a $10 maximum for one vehicle only.

i've never received any travel compensation in the two associations in two states ive worked in. we get good game fees so its alright, but travel compensation would be nice when driving 45-60 minutes to most games.

[Rich]

Originally posted by Carl Childress

We don't use the IRS rate. Our rate is set by the Texas Comptroller.

And the Texas comptroller doesn't pull the figure out of his backside. Your rate will be down to 44.5 cents in January just like everyone else's because that's what the IRS will allow for business mileage deductions.

[Carl Childress]

Originally posted by Rich Fronheiser

And the Texas comptroller doesn't pull the figure out of his backside. Your rate will be down to 44.5 cents in January just like everyone else's because that's what the IRS will allow for business mileage deductions.

WEell, the rate is still 48.5 cents. Is the IRS figure NOW at 44.5? If so, what about the football and basketball officials who are getting 48.5? Will they have to pay texas on that extra 4 cents?

And what if the Texas comptroller, who knows someone very high up in Washington, decides Texans can't operate a vehicle at the current gas pices for less than 48.5?

The energy department said that crude would remain at $50 a barrel - permanently. That is, the days of $30 crude are over. I suggest the IRS will moderate its tone.

You're right, of course. Our comptroller doesn't pull the prices out of his "backside." I suspect they are carefully researched in house. Maybe that's not the way it's done in Wisconsin, where everything may be tied to the price of cheese.

[Rich]

Originally posted by Carl Childress

WEell, the rate is still 48.5 cents. Is the IRS figure NOW at 44.5? If so, what about the football and basketball officials who are getting 48.5? Will they have to pay texas on that extra 4 cents?

And what if the Texas comptroller, who knows someone very high up in Washington, decides Texans can't operate a vehicle at the current gas pices for less than 48.5?

The energy department said that crude would remain at $50 a barrel - permanently. That is, the days of $30 crude are over. I suggest the IRS will moderate its tone.

You're right, of course. Our comptroller doesn't pull the prices out of his "backside." I suspect they are carefully researched in house. Maybe that's not the way it's done in Wisconsin, where everything may be tied to the price of cheese.

Nobody, NOBODY pays more than the prevailing IRS rate for mileage deductions. If they did, that money would have to be claimed as income.

I looked at the comptroller's page. Reimbursement was identical to the IRS rate. And I was just trying to pass on some information, BTW. But maybe in Tejas, prices are related to the price of tamales.

[Carl Childress]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Carl Childress

Originally posted by Rich Fronheiser

Nobody, NOBODY pays more than the prevailing IRS rate for mileage deductions. If they did, that money would have to be claimed as income.

[/b]One of us can't read. Here's the URL for anyone who cares.

http://www.window.state.tx.us/comptrol/texastra.html

And here's the relevant portion of that page:
At a Glance:
State Travel Reimbursement
Lodging up to $85.00 per day
Meals up to $36.00 per day
Mileage 48.5 cents per mile (as of October 1, 2005)

What am I missing?

[Edited by Carl Childress on Dec 14th, 2005 at 03:48 AM]

[Carl Childress]

Originally posted by PWL
I think everybody forgets these schools have budgets. Perhaps if you didn't spring it on them, and let them prepare for the increase this wouldn't be such a big issue. Since Robin Hood has been declared unconstitutional by the Republican controlled Texas House there may some repurcussions coming for some schools with a lower tax base. Big money at work for you. Maybe have to bite the bullet like everybody else.

I'm sorry, but the Texas House (bad as it is) doesn't have the authority to declare anything unconstitutional. On the other hand, the Texas Supreme Court (everyone of whom is a Republican) did (7-1), giving the Legislature until June 1, 2006 to solve the problem.

As for "springing it on them," they have budgets, I agree. They also have contingency funds. The baseball chapters did not catch them unawares: We told them in August of this year.

The State Comptroller set the mileage rate on 1 October.
The UIL constitution requires that schools in competition pay for one car at the state rate, Mr. Fronhesier's information to the contrary notwithstanding - as the saying goes.

[WhatWuzThatBlue]

Maybe this will help...

http://apps.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=151226,00.html

All I did was go to Google and type milage deduction 2006 and this was the first entry. If the link doesn't work, blame the government or try the Google way. I can assure you that it is there.

I like tamales with cheese.

[WhatWuzThatBlue]

Sorry lads, it didn't work correctly when I tried it, so here's the article.

"IRS Announces 2006 Standard Mileage Rates

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today issued the 2006 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2006, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (including vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be:

44.5 cents per mile for business miles driven;
18 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes; and
14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations, other than activities related to Hurricane Katrina relief.
The new rate for business miles compares to a rate of 40.5 cents per mile for the first eight months of 2005. In September, the IRS made a special one-time adjustment for the last four months of 2005, raising the rate for business miles to 48.5 cents per mile in response to a sharp increase in gas prices, which topped $3 a gallon.

“The IRS took the extraordinary step of temporarily increasing the standard mileage rates in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina,” IRS Commissioner Mark W. Everson said. “We promised to continue closely monitoring the situation. The 2006 mileage rates reflect that gas prices have dropped.”

The standard mileage rates for business, medical and moving purposes are based on an annual study of the fixed and variable costs of operating an automobile. Runzheimer International, an independent contractor, conducted the study for the IRS.

The mileage rate for charitable miles is set by statute.

For the first eight months of 2005, the standard rate for miles driven for medical or moving purposes was 15 cents per mile, and, except for special Hurricane Katrina rates, the standard rate for miles driven in service of a charitable organization was 14 cents per mile.

For the last four months of 2005, the agency raised the standard rate for miles driven for medical or moving purposes to 22 cents per mile. The standard rate for charitable miles remained at 14 cents per mile––except for charitable miles relating to Hurricane Katrina.

Special Rates for Katrina-Related Charitable Miles

Congress this year also approved special rates in connection with miles driven in service of charities providing Hurricane Katrina relief.

For the period Aug. 25 to Aug. 31, 2005, the rate for miles driven for charities providing Hurricane Katrina relief is 29 cents, for deduction purposes, and 40.5 cents, for reimbursement purposes. For the months of September through December 2005, the special Katrina-related rates are 34 cents for deductions and 48.5 cents for reimbursements.

For 2006, these Katrina-related charitable rates will be 32 cents per mile for deduction purposes and 44.5 cents per mile for reimbursement purposes.

Revenue Procedure 2005-78 contains additional information and limitations on the use of the standard mileage rates."

[mbyron]

Originally posted by Carl Childress

The energy department said that crude would remain at $50 a barrel - permanently. That is, the days of $30 crude are over. I suggest the IRS will moderate its tone.

I wouldn't trust the energy department. The oil futures market is the place for this info: some traders are betting on $90, others on $19 for next year, but a plurality are putting their money in the $50-60 range for the first 6 months of 2006. That's not the same as saying that we'll never again see $30 oil.

In any case, if gas is $2.50/gal and your car gets 15 MPG, gas costs you 16¢ per mile, less than 1/3 of the current IRS mileage rate. And, a 20% increase in the price of gas (to $3.00) would raise that number only 4¢.

I paid $2.09 yesterday and get 27 MPG, so gas costs me only about 8¢ per mile. Your mileage may vary.

The main factor in mileage is depreciation, which is only indirectly linked to fuel prices.

Gotta love the off-season.

[umpbrian]

Mileage fees are not only about reimbursement for gas costs, it is also for wear and tear on a vehicle that I must use to get to and from my place of work (the ballpark).

[Carl Childress]

Originally posted by mbyron

I wouldn't trust the energy department. The oil futures market is the place for this info: some traders are betting on $90, others on $19 for next year, but a plurality are putting their money in the $50-60 range for the first 6 months of 2006. That's not the same as saying that we'll never again see $30 oil.

In any case, if gas is $2.50/gal and your car gets 15 MPG, gas costs you 16¢ per mile, less than 1/3 of the current IRS mileage rate. And, a 20% increase in the price of gas (to $3.00) would raise that number only 4¢.

I paid $2.09 yesterday and get 27 MPG, so gas costs me only about 8¢ per mile. Your mileage may vary.

The main factor in mileage is depreciation, which is only indirectly linked to fuel prices.

Gotta love the off-season.

So, the Texas rate in August was $.385 per mile. Gas spiked to three dollars a gallon. Texas raised the rate $.10 per mile, starting 1 October. That's roughly a 25% increase.

Do that mean that my car depreciates 25% faster when a hurricane arrives? Even if I don't live in Louisiana or Florida?

[jumpmaster]

Originally posted by Rich Fronheiser
But maybe in Tejas, prices are related to the price of tamales. [/B]

Actually, I believe it is related to beer...Shiner to be specific.

When the democrats are in charge is is linked to Lone Star.

[umpbrian]

Originally posted by jumpmaster
Actually, I believe it is related to beer...Shiner to be specific.

When the democrats are in charge is is linked to Lone Star. [/B]

While umpiring a tournament in Weimar, Tx I had the pleasure on our off days to visit two factories, an ice cream factory and a beer factory, what a wonderful state.

[GarthB]

Originally posted by WhatWuzThatBlue
Sorry lads, it didn't work correctly when I tried it, so here's the article.

"IRS Announces 2006 Standard Mileage Rates

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today issued the 2006 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2006, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (including vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be:

44.5 cents per mile for business miles driven;
18 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes; and
14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations, other than activities related to Hurricane Katrina relief.
The new rate for business miles compares to a rate of 40.5 cents per mile for the first eight months of 2005. In September, the IRS made a special one-time adjustment for the last four months of 2005, raising the rate for business miles to 48.5 cents per mile in response to a sharp increase in gas prices, which topped $3 a gallon.

“The IRS took the extraordinary step of temporarily increasing the standard mileage rates in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina,” IRS Commissioner Mark W. Everson said. “We promised to continue closely monitoring the situation. The 2006 mileage rates reflect that gas prices have dropped.”

The standard mileage rates for business, medical and moving purposes are based on an annual study of the fixed and variable costs of operating an automobile. Runzheimer International, an independent contractor, conducted the study for the IRS.

The mileage rate for charitable miles is set by statute.

For the first eight months of 2005, the standard rate for miles driven for medical or moving purposes was 15 cents per mile, and, except for special Hurricane Katrina rates, the standard rate for miles driven in service of a charitable organization was 14 cents per mile.

For the last four months of 2005, the agency raised the standard rate for miles driven for medical or moving purposes to 22 cents per mile. The standard rate for charitable miles remained at 14 cents per mile––except for charitable miles relating to Hurricane Katrina.

Special Rates for Katrina-Related Charitable Miles

Congress this year also approved special rates in connection with miles driven in service of charities providing Hurricane Katrina relief.

For the period Aug. 25 to Aug. 31, 2005, the rate for miles driven for charities providing Hurricane Katrina relief is 29 cents, for deduction purposes, and 40.5 cents, for reimbursement purposes. For the months of September through December 2005, the special Katrina-related rates are 34 cents for deductions and 48.5 cents for reimbursements.

For 2006, these Katrina-related charitable rates will be 32 cents per mile for deduction purposes and 44.5 cents per mile for reimbursement purposes.

Revenue Procedure 2005-78 contains additional information and limitations on the use of the standard mileage rates."

Windy:

That's all well and good, however, Carl's point has been that the UIL constitution requires that schools in competition pay for one car at the state rate.

At this time, the state rate is 48.5. To my knowledge, while most entities who pay mileage pay the IRS rate, there is no law that mandates they do so. However, any portion over the IRS rate is taxable.