January 14, 2013
-
It’s not the apocalypse yet, just a tax cut
A blogger for a non-partisan, nonprofit national research organization that has monitored tax policy at the federal, state and local levels since 1937 thought Judgment Day might be just around the corner after most Michigan Republican legislators agreed to phase out the personal-property tax for industrial and commercial businesses. “Today might not be the end […]
Determining ‘large employers,’ ‘full-time employees’ for PPACA
Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, beginning in 2014, any company designated as a "large employer" will be required to offer minimum essential health care coverage for all "full-time employees" or will pay a penalty tax for failing to offer such coverage. While 2014 may seem a long way away, prudent employers will […]
Every success revolves around one word. What’s yours?
My friend Andy Horner and I were eating lunch at Chick-fil-A last Friday. My 3-year-old daughter, Gabrielle, was with us. The minute we walked in the door, we were all handed a sample of their new tortilla soup — a bit spicy, but absolutely excellent. I should note the person serving the soup was a […]
-
Change Ups: Cardiologist named AHA fellow
Larry Diaz-Sandoval, an interventional cardiologist with Metro Health, has been named a fellow of the American Heart Association by the Council on Peripheral Vascular Disease, recognizing excellence, innovations and leadership in the field and active volunteer leadership and service in the AHA. Diaz-Sandoval has a decade of experience in cardiology and cardiovascular disease. He is […]
Public Record
Selected mortgages filed with Kent County Register of Deeds HARNESS, David L. et al, Quicken Loans, Crystal Springs Plat No. 6, Lot 240, $237,400 CORETTI, Jon et al, Fifth Third Mortgage, Cannon Twp., 21-8-10, $239,000 MIDWEST V LLC, Morse, Slater Heights, Lot 1, $100,000 COURTS, Janice L. Trust et al, Macatawa Bank, Condo-Flowers Crossing, $285,900 […]
Street Talk: Right to work — and play — must be Pure Michigan
Tying the right-to-work laws with the state’s Pure Michigan tourism campaign seems, well, sort of un-pure. Will people visit the Wolverine State to see non-union employees working in a factory? That would be a bit of a stretch, even for the most optimistic promoter. But a full-page ad in last Tuesday’s Wall Street Journal that […]
Are you ready to rumble?
Although the state’s 97th legislative session began last week, little in the way of actual legislating will occur until Gov. Rick Snyder delivers his State-of-the-State address this week. Then it might be a Katie-bar-the-doors session such as hasn’t been seen in Lansing since John Engler lived in the governor’s mansion and introduced the concept of […]
Commission may change pay evaluation process
The next time Grand Rapids city commissioners evaluate the performances of the city’s four top executives, they may base their decisions on a new evaluation process. After using what Mayor George Heartwell called the city’s standard “360 evaluation” to approve wage hikes for three of the executives last week, commissioners agreed to have a committee […]
Racial disparities in infant deaths draw attention
LANSING — While the infant mortality rate in Michigan is one of the highest in the nation, experts say the disparity in racial and ethnic groups is equally alarming. “The clearest issue to us is the huge difference in the health disparity by racial and ethnic groups,” said Paulette Dunbar, the manager of the Maternal, […]
City ends a trio of industrial tax abatements
Grand Rapids city commissioners terminated three industrial tax-exemption certificates last week. One belonged to a business owned by a current commissioner. The other business, which was awarded two of the certificates, has ceased operations. Commissioners approved two tax breaks for Peninsula Fire Protection Inc. at 696 and 700 Plymouth Ave. NE in 2001. Peninsula Fire […]
Looking forward through a rearview mirror
“There’s no future in making predictions.” — Editorial from the Redwood Falls Gazette, Dec. 19, 2012. The reason I like this statement is because it combines a little bit of humor with a lot of common sense. In my work as a consultant, I am frequently expected to make predictions, and then use common sense […]
-
CPAs working in the dark while Congress argues
The continuing inability of Congress and the Obama administration to work out a long-term financial plan that finally addresses taxes and spending and ends the debt ceiling controversy is prolonging the confusion and anxiety felt by business clients at many CPA firms. The uncertainty in Washington, the inability to make a concrete plan leading to […]
Several variables will define 2013’s economy
We’ve returned to an unimpressive growth pattern. Despite the optimism of our November report, December and 2012 ended rather flat. Our closely watched index of New Orders came in at +4, considerably lower than the +17 last month. The Production index backtracked as well, coming down to +11 from +21. Activity in the purchasing offices […]
-
Inside Track: From a humble beginning, Curt Mulder has found success
It’s fair to say that Curt Mulder swept his way into his executive position at one of the region’s top builders. Mulder has been a vice president at Wolverine Building Group for nearly three years, heading the multi-family housing construction division. But when he started at the firm in 1998 when he was a full-time […]
Business has questions, does Snyder have answers?
Wednesday is must-see TV for the state’s business community, especially those employers who call West Michigan home. Gov. Rick Snyder’s State of the State Address is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. It will be carried live on most of the state’s public radio and TV stations, and can be viewed live on the Business […]
-
GR no longer ranked as ‘Dying City’
Who’s dying now, Newsweek? In January 2011, the Daily Beast infamously ranked Grand Rapids 10th on its list of America’s Dying Cities. Perhaps no one could have predicted then that within two years, the city on the Grand would rebound by setting not only two world records but a trend of A-listing ratings in some […]
-
Children’s Hospital unveils ICU on wheels
Officials at the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital unveiled a new high-tech ambulance Thursday — virtually a fully equipped mobile neonatal intensive care unit — that Spectrum Health System has purchased to begin transporting in February critically ill or injured infants and children. The 2013 International Dura Star vehicle has a four-door truck cab in front […]
Businesses fret over health costs
It’s official: The federal requirements concerning health care are having an impact on West Michigan businesses. The recent results of the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce’s yearly government affairs survey reveal that, statistically speaking, West Michigan business owners and employees find the costs of federal health care and federal spending to be extremely important […]
