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The new scheme revamps the way main contractors deal with subcontractors. Details of subcontractor lists will be sent to contractors. Although the accounting, construction and IT industries welcomed HMRC’s decision to delay the introduction of the scheme for 12 months, there are fears that the technical problems could still bring the scheme grinding to a halt, causing incorrect tax payments and increased administration when it finally comes into effect on 6 April next year. HMRC will provide transitional documents to main contractors in November so they can record the subcontractors they have employed over the past two years. But the construction industry is worried that if any subcontractor details are left off the documents, then thousands of contractors will swamp HMRC phone lines in the first weeks of the scheme.
Portugal was distinguished with the best institutional participation in the construction international fair that ended on Sunday, in Luanda, whose presence was the highest, in terms of foreign firms participation, with 17 business companies. Speaking to the press, at the end of the ceremony that served to hand over the various prizes, the official with the Portuguese Industrial Association (AIP), Sandra Fragoso, said that she is very proud to bring the highest number of companies to this international construction fair, which was named Constri/Angola. .
The notion of providing tax breaks for modular housing on the Gulf Coast as a means to provide fast, affordable housing for victims of Hurricane Katrina has seemed a no-brainer. Gov. Haley Barbour, in calling today's special legislative session to address that one issue, has said that this tax break will reduce the cost of new homes for Coast families by $4,000 to $6,000 per home. "The number one priority and challenge in Mississippi caused by Katrina is housing," Barbour said. "We must act now to remove barriers to building housing on the Gulf Coast, and reducing the tax on modular homes is a necessary step toward that end." But House Speaker Billy McCoy, who did not push his chamber to take up the modular housing tax break in the previous special session, has expressed concern that the tax break won't benefit homeowners but contractors or modular home manufacturers.
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. - A man was charged with five counts of murder Sunday in the slayings of a mother and her four children in a mobile home, authorities said. Michael Simmons, 41, appeared at a bond hearing via video link from the Charleston County Jail on Sunday and was ordered held without bond. Officers discovered the bodies, including that of a 6-year-old, at the home Saturday after responding to a call. According to an arrest affidavit, a witness saw the bodies in the home then called police. The affidavit said Simmons was captured as he tried to drive away from the scene. The victims were shot with a handgun, the affidavit said. Police have not identified a motive. Charleston County Coroner Rae Wooten identified the victims as Betra Rainey, 39, and her children William Rainey, 16, Hakiem Rainey, 13, Malachia Robinson, 8, and Samenia Robinson, 6.
A construction manager will be hired by Kalamazoo County to oversee construction of a $28.5 million juvenile home approved by voters in August. The 64-bed juvenile home, adjacent to the current juvenile home at 1424 Gull Road, could open by late 2008 or early 2009, officials say. County Administrator Donald Gilmer said the county will solicit bids for a construction manager who will be responsible for keeping the project within budget and on schedule. Changes during large construction projects can be frequent, costly and unnecessary, he said. ``If somebody starts blowing a bunch of smoke at you, you have got to know they are blowing smoke at you,'' Gilmer said. ``It might not be obvious to a non-professional, so (a construction manager will be) our eyes and ears on the job.'' Gilmer said he wants the manager in place in November, before a contract is awarded to an architectural and engineering firm.
An interstate closing nearly shut down a small town for six months. I-35 is now open near Pattonsburg and business is up but not back to normal. They`re still doing some work on the interstate but as far as the lanes there all open now.
Antique owner Patsy Cox hopes open lanes mean business as usual in pattonsburg.
Cox said, "When the roads opened, oh I was elated." Just six months ago construction on I-35 made it hard for travelers to get to Pattonsburg or even see it from the interstate.
Businesses in the town of less than 300 rely on tourists and travelers. Cox said, "It`s going to take awhile to get back on my feet like I was but I`m going to keep trying." Cox says business has picked up since lanes opened up but 80% of her business suffered for six months.
GMAC-RFC announced Monday that it is partnering with First Savings Mortgage Corp. to roll out a co-branded servicing initiative that gives mortgage lenders the ability to maintain a marketing presence in front of their homeowners throughout the life of their loans.The co-branded servicing program prominently displays the mortgage lender’s name and logo, along with GMAC Mortgage, on the monthly statement and gives the lender the opportunity to include a marketing message, such as the originating loan officer’s name and contact information. The purpose of the program is to allow the lenders to keep their brand visible to the homeowner and to regularly offer the homeowner additional mortgage products, but without the expense of investing in servicing rights or establishing their own mortgage loan servicing infrastructure.It is not yet clear though how this marketing approach would apply to default servicing.
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