Making Sense of Dollars
March 2017
The Auditor-Controller on Tax Freedom Day

Auditor Controller Eric Woolery recently authored an Op Ed in the Orange County Register on this year's Tax Freedom Day. In case you missed it, we've excerpted some of it below: 

Property Tax Day was April 10 and Income Tax Day was April 18.  While both have already come and gone, May 1 marks a lesser-known — and likely more appreciated holiday for Californians— “Tax Freedom Day.”

Tax Freedom Day is the day when Americans have earned enough money to pay our total tax bill for the year. Tax Freedom Day takes all federal, state, and local taxes and divides them by the nation’s income. The Tax Foundation calculates that in 2017, Americans will pay $3.5 trillion in federal taxes and $1.6 trillion in state and local taxes.  This adds up to a total tax burden of $5.1 trillion, or 31 percent of U.S. income. This year, National Tax Freedom Day falls on April 23, which is 113 days into 2017.  For Californians, however, May 1 is Tax Freedom Day, later than all but 4 of the 50 states in the union.

The Tax Foundation data shows that Americans spend a whopping 46 days just to pay personal income taxes.  Payroll taxes add another 26 days, sales taxes 15 more days, property taxes take up another 10 days, corporate income taxes tack on another 10 days, and countless other taxes take up the last 6 days.  Americans paid more in taxes last year than on food, clothing, and housing – combined.  In 1900, Tax Freedom Day was on January 22 because Americans spent only 5.9% of their income on taxes.  


Want to know all about Mello Roos?
Come to our Taxpayer Watchdog Event this Thursday June 8!
You’ve heard about them, now learn all about Mello-Roos: what they are, how they’re paid and what they mean to your community. Join Auditor-Controller Eric H. Woolery, Assessor Claude Parrish, Irvine Mayor Donald P. Wagner and other experts as they demystify and discuss the ins and outs of these often confusing taxes.

The evening will be moderated by Jonathan Lansner, Orange County Register
business columnist.

Panel:
Eric H. Woolery, CPA, Orange County Auditor-Controller
Donald P. Wagner, Mayor of Irvine
Claude Parrish, Orange County Assessor

WHEN
Thursday, June 8, 2017 from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM

WHERE
Orange County Association of Realtors, 25552 La Paz Road, Laguna Hills, CA 92653.
Parking is open and complimentary.

Where has the Auditor-Controller been this month?
There were some great questions on pensions and property tax when Mr. Woolery spoke to the Kiwanis club of Santa Ana

Next month, Mr. Woolery will be speaking at the  Garden Grove Neighborhood Association’s 14th Annual Neighborhood Meeting at 12381 Meade Street, Garden Grove on Saturday, June 10, 2017, at 1 p.m.

Interested in having the Auditor-Controller speak at your event? Contact Anthony Kuo at anthony.kuo@ac.ocgov.com for more information.
Cooking the Books with
Auditor-Controller Eric H. Woolery
This month's issue of Clearly Orange features the first of our newest feature, cooking the books with Auditor-Controller Eric Woolery! Each month we will feature a recipe from the kitchen of the Auditor-Controller, who is an award winning chef in his spare time! 

This month is national BBQ month, so we are featuring Mr. Woolery's homeade Missouri Style BBQ sauce - from scratch. This recipe has been honed over years of practice and taste testing at the Woolery household! Enjoy!
bbq_pulled_pork_sandwich.jpg
Auditor-Controller BBQ Sauce
 

Ingredients:
4 oz Bud Beer
24 oz Tomato Puree
8 oz Ketchup
3 TBSP BBQ Seasoning
4 oz Deli Mustard
2 Bay Leaves
1  Medium White Onion finely chopped
2 TBSP Minced Garlic
½ TBSP Black Pepper
1 TBSP Crushed cChili
4 oz Molasses

Combine in a blender or food processor and apply liberally!


Eric H. Woolery, CPA
Auditor-Controller
12 Civic Center Plaza
Room # 200
P.O. Box 567
Santa Ana, CA 92702
(714) 834-2450
(714) 834-2569 Fax
Office Hours 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday - Friday  
pioac@ac.ocgov.com