California Minimum Wage Increased from $16.50 to $16.90 Per Hour on January 1, 2026

Effective January 1, 2026, the minimum wage for all California hourly employees increased to $16.90 per hour, up from $16.50 per hour that was effective January 1, 2025.

The current California minimum wage for fast food restaurant employees that was established effective April 1, 2024 stands at $20 per hour. There is not an automatic inflation adjustment for this minimum wage. The Fast Food Council has the authority to adjust the wage. See www.dir.ca.gov/AB1228/AB1228.html.

The federal minimum wage for 2026 is still $7.25, a rate unchanged since it became effective on July 24, 2009.

California minimum wage rates apply to Ventura County residents, whereas certain localities establish their own city or county minimum wage rates.

The City of Los Angeles minimum wage rate has been $17.87 per hour since July 1, 2025. Each year, the minimum wage is adjusted for inflation; the adjusted rate is announced on February 1st of each year and becomes effective on July 1st of each year. See wagesla.lacity.org.

The County of Los Angeles minimum wage rate became $17.81 per hour effective July 1, 2025 and increases to $18.47 per hour starting July 1, 2026. See dcba.lacounty.gov/minimum-wage-for-businesses. This rate applies to employees in unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County.

The top 3 highest minimum wage rates in California as of January 1, 2026 are in West Hollywood ($20.25), Emeryville ($19.90), and Mountain View ($19.70). See https://laborcenter.berkeley.edu/inventory-of-us-city-and-county-minimum-wage-ordinances/#s-2.

Boy Scouts of America to Rebrand as Scouting America

The Boy Scouts of America today announced that it will rebrand to Scouting America, reflecting the organization’s ongoing commitment to welcome every youth and family in America to experience the benefits of Scouting. The change will go into effect on February 8, 2025, the organization’s 115th anniversary.

This announcement also comes as the organization celebrates the fifth anniversary of welcoming girls into Cub Scouting and Scouts BSA programs. Scouting America currently serves more than 176,000 girls and young women across all programs, including over 6,000 who have earned the rank of Eagle Scout.

Scouting America’s ongoing goal is to provide young people with a safe environment where they can learn meaningful life skills and have fun, educational experiences, fostering their growth and future outcomes as leaders, and be prepared for life. At the same time, values instilled by the Scout Oath and Law help prepare young people for lives of purpose and impact.

More than 130 million Americans have been through Scouting programs since its founding in 1910, and currently, more than 1 million youth, including both men and women, are served by 477,000 dedicated adult volunteers in local councils throughout the country. To date, more than 2.75 million youth have earned Scouting’s highest rank of Eagle Scout.

To learn more about Scouting America’s mission, visit Scouting.org. 

Gigantic LED Screen Premieres on East Wall of Thousand Oaks Civic Art Plaza

Last night, a gigantic LED sign premiered on the east wall of the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza. Constructed in 1994, the Civic Arts Plaza will make its presence even more apparent to passing motorists on the northbound 101.

Project Manager R.U. Kidinme remarked "We are excited to swap the Copper Curtain for a more modern Times Square look on the east side of the building." Assistant Manager Noah Wei nodded his head in agreement.

The original design featured over 2,000 17 inch strips of copper that were meant to flutter in the wind like a wave. Due to concerns about safety and noise, the strips were nailed to the building.

The new LED sign, measuring approximately 240 by 330 square feet, will emit the brightest neon light display on the west coast. Thousand Oaks resident April Fuwels said "Although I'll need to keep my sunglasses handy as I drive by, I just love this new look."

April fools! this is view of the civic arts plaza the morning of monday, april 1, 2024. Yes, we had some storms all easter weekend which brought snow to the local mountains in the background!

Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise "Simi Smiles" Peace Project Rock Exchange at Corriganville Park

Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise recently installed a community peace themed rock exchange at Corriganville Park, 7001 Smith Road, Simi Valley.

Through the efforts of Simi Sunrise, the city of Simi Valley has been established as an International City of Peace, one of 375 Cities of Peace in 70 countries.

To encourage the community to promote peace, students were invited to design hand-painted rocks to spread peace, love and friendship. Over 500 rocks with these themes were created and were placed in a large peace sign formation adjacent to the Corriganville Park parking lot.

Learn more about the Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise at rotaryclubofsimisunrise.org.

More on the International Cities of Peace movement at www.internationalcitiesofpeace.org. Other local Cities of Peace include Ojai, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles.

Chinese Year of the Water Rabbit Starts Today, January 22, 2023

Lunar year 2023, starting today, January 22nd, through February 9, 2024, is the Chinese Year of the Rabbit.

The Rabbit is the 4th animal on the Chinese zodiac, which also includes the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. Twelve animals in all, on a 12 year rotation. The Rabbit is a symbol of longevity, peace and prosperity in Chinese culture.

2023 is the year of the Water Rabbit. There are five elements associated with the Zodiac signs - Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. Combined with the 12 zodiac animals, each combination of animal and element rotates in on a sixty year cycle. Those born in Water years are agile, easygoing, approachable, and adaptable.

Celebrity Water Rabbits include Michael Jordan, Johnny Depp, Quentin Tarantino, Brad Pitt, Jennifer Beals, Phoebe Cates, Mike Myers, Helen Hunt and Lisa Kudrow.

Rabbits are, of course, the namesake of the Conejo Valley, and we are so close to the Pacific Ocean that the Year of the Water Rabbit is particularly special for residents of this beautiful area.

California 16 and 17 Year Olds Can Pre-Register to Vote Online

In 2014, California Governor Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 113 by Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson which allowed voter pre-registration beginning at age 16 once the California’s statewide voter registration database, VoteCal, was certified. VoteCal was certified in September 2016. 

Pre-registering to vote helps enable California youth to vote as soon as they turn 18. The process can be done online at registertovote.ca.gov as long as 16 and 17 year olds have signatures on file with the DMV. If signatures are not on file, they may pre-register by completing a paper form and mailing to their county elections office.

Pre-registration applies to California youth who are 16 or 17, a U.S. citiizen and resident of California, not currently in state or federal prison or on parole for a felony and not currently found mentally incompetent to vote by a court.

My 17 year old did it and said it took less than 5 minutes.

Learn more at www.sos.ca.gov/elections/pre-register-16-vote-18.

All About the Advance Child Tax Credits That Commenced Today, July 15, 2021

Today, the IRS started sending out “Advance Child Tax Credits” to eligible taxpayers for 2021 that were voted into law as part of the American Rescue Plan Act in March.

The law did a number of things for the 2021 tax year only:

• It increased the amount of the Child Tax Credit from $2,000 for dependents under age 17 to $3,600 for ages 5 and under and $3,000 for ages 17 and under.

  • Dependents age 18 and up continue to generate a $500 tax credit, with no advance credit.

  • Note that in prior years, the credit dropped from $2,000 to $500 at age 17, not age 18. So effectively the Child Tax Credit for dependents age 17 increased from $500 to $3,000 for year 2021, which is quite substantial.

  • The ages are determined as of 12/31/21.

• The law allows for Advance Child Tax Credit payments to taxpayers over a 6 month period beginning July 15 through December 15, 2021. The advance payments are as follows:

  • Up to $1,800 of the $3,600 tax credit for ages 5 and under at a rate of $300 per month, beginning July 15th.

  • Up to $1,500 of the $3,000 tax credit for ages 6 to 17 at a rate of $250 per month, beginning July 15th.

  • The remaining 50% of the tax credit will be applied as usual when you file your 2021 tax return in 2022.

• However, there is a “first phaseout” of the increased Child Tax Credit in 2021 once your 2021 modified Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) reaches $150,000 for married filing joint, $112,500 for head of household and $75,000 for single filers.

  • This first phaseout begins to reduce the Child Tax Credit from $3,000 or $3,600 down to $2,000.

  • The reduction is $50 of tax credit for each $1,000 in AGI in excess of the limits shown above. That means the Child Tax Credit drops to $2,000 if your income is $30,000 (ages 6 to 17) or $36,000 (ages 5 and under) greater than the limits.

• There’s also a “second phaseout” if your income reaches $400,000 married filing joint or $200,000 for other filing statuses as there has been in prior years.

Isn’t this great how uncomplicated the rules are? <sarcasm>

How do they determine if you will be receiving the Advance Child Tax Credit? Based on your 2020, or if not filed yet, your 2019 tax return.

The IRS will be sending out “Letter 6419” next January to show the total amount of Advance Child Tax Credits paid. They will need to be included in your 2021 tax returns to derive any remaining Child Tax Credit.

The Advance Child Tax Credits are not taxable income. HOWEVER, if your tax situation changes significantly in 2021 and as a result you are not eligible for the full Child Tax Credit, but you receive the Advance Child Tax Credits, you may have to pay back some of the money when you file the return. For example:

• Your income increased in 2021 and you are no longer eligible for the increased tax credit.

• You no longer claim the dependent for whatever reason.

If you think you are in this situation, you can OPT OUT of receiving the Advance Child Tax Credits at https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021.

• You cannot opt out of payments already received, but you can opt out of future payments.

Inversely, your tax situation may have changed in 2021 that would allow you to receive more Advance Child Tax Credits:

• You had a baby in 2021 or otherwise have additional dependents under age 18.

• Your AGI dropped in 2021 and as a result you are now eligible for Child Tax Credits based on your reduced income.

• Your tax filing status changed in 2021 (single to married, or vice versa) and that changes your eligibility for Child Tax Credits.

Goldstein Weiss, CPAs www.goldsteinweiss.com 818-876-8380

Go to the link above to update your information with the IRS to start receiving Advance Child Tax Credits.