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Berkeley council expands R&D grant tax exemption to keep startups in the city
Summary
On first reading the council broadened Berkeley’s R&D grant exemption—removing a $1 million lifetime cap and a $100,000 other‑receipts limit and adding philanthropic grants—after debate about fiscal impacts and public outreach.
The Berkeley City Council on Oct. 29 voted on first reading to amend the municipal code to expand an existing exemption that excludes government research and development grants from business gross receipts taxation.
Mayor (speaker 7) and staff from the Office of Economic Development said the change removes a lifetime cap of $1,000,000, eliminates a restriction that a firm must have less than $100,000 in other gross receipts to qualify, and extends the exemption to philanthropic grants that fund public‑interest R&D.
"This proposal and staff can clarify this would have an economic impact of $9,000 a year on the city's general fund," the mayor said…
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