Golden years: A new ranking of the best places to retire in Louisiana by personal finance technology firm SmartAsset includes Gonzales at No. 5 and Denham Springs at No. 6. SmartAsset says it compiled the rankings by looking at a number of factors, including state and local tax rates, cost of living, number of doctor’s offices, recreation and retirement centers. Covington is listed as the best place to retire in the state. Baton Rouge did not make the list, nor did New Orleans. See the complete rankings.
Keeping the pressure on: U.S. Sens. David Vitter and Bill Cassidy wrote to President Barack Obama last week urging him not to pursue a plan to steer millions in oil and gas revenue away from Gulf Coast states. As USA Today reports, the administration’s fiscal 2016 budget, released Feb. 2, proposes to “redirect” the revenue to the Treasury to use for national programs. Under the 2006 Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (GOMESA), Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas and certain counties in those states receive 37.5% of revenue from offshore oil and gas drilling. The states use the money for coastal restoration and hurricane protection projects. Read the full story.
Be on the look out: Secretary of State Tom Schedler says Louisiana businesses should be on the watch for fraudulent phone calls being made concerning the filing of their annual reports. Schedler says a company named Louisiana Council for Corporations has contacted businesses in the state seeking to file their annual reports for a service fee of $125. However, no annual report is ever filed on the company’s behalf. Business owners with questions or concerns are encouraged to contact the Department of State’s Commercial Division for more information at (225) 925-4704 or commercial@sos.la.gov. Schedler’s office has more details on the scam.
