Desert Messenger

20 www.DesertMessenger.com March 20, 2019 AZGFD offers support for butterflies Take survey - enter to win an IPad Over the last two decades, the iconic monarch but- terfly populations have declined 80 percent throughout its historical range in the Western U. S, but the famed species will now get a wing up with assistance from the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD). The department recently helped to complete the Western Monarch But- terfly Conservation Plan, which was recently adopted by the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, of which AZGFD is a member. The new plan establishes population size and habitat conservation goals, strategies and actions for the monarch butterflies that overwinter along the California coast and range primarily across California, Arizona, Ne- vada, Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Utah. "The Arizona Game and Fish Department is proud to partner with WAF- WA on this plan to do our part to help restore populations of this iconic species throughout the western U.S.," said Jim deVos, assistant director for wildlife management at AZGFD. "We look forward to collaborating with our many partners to enhance monarch butterfly conservation as a means to promote improved habitat health for all Arizona wildlife." As part of this effort, the department plans to help incorporate the objec- tives of this plan at a number of AZGFD Wildlife Areas throughout the state. Opportunities for the public to help plant milkweed and monitor and/or tag monarch butterflies will be announced as various project planning progresses. The monarch butterfly is an iconic species in North America and its an- nual migration cycle is one of the most remarkable natural phenomena in the world. However, over the past 20 years, the western monarch butterfly population has declined throughout much of its western range, largely due to loss of habitat for breeding, wintering and foraging. In 2017, WAFWA established the Western Monarch Working Group to lead a multi-state cooperative agenda for conservation of the butter- fly population. AZGFD, other WAFWA member states, university and non-governmental partners then led an effort to develop a strategy to enhance monarch populations west of the Rockies. Conservation elements include a system to track implementation efforts identified in the Western Monarch Butterfly Conservation Plan and tran- sition milkweed data into WAFWA's Crucial Habitat Assessment Tool. With this information accessible online, land managers will be able to identify and prioritize areas for monarch and other pollinator conserva- tion efforts. To learn more and read the Western Monarch Butterfly Conservation Plan visit http://xerces.org/save-western-monarchs/ Enter to win a free IPad by taking La Paz County Community Health Survey! The Community Health Survey is done every five years and is created with the help of partnering organizations. This survey covers all of La Paz County and its neighboring California towns such as Earp and Big River. The survey addresses: overall community health, access to care, afford- able quality housing, neighborhood safety, quality affordable food, and more! If you have a few minutes, your input would be greatly appreci- ated! The results of this survey will be shared with organizations that will benefit from the information to better serve YOU! At the end of the survey, it will take you to another screen to maintain anonymity where you can enter your name for a chance to win an iPAD! ENGLISH VERSION: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DMYVQSS SPANISH VERSION: https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/MJR2WKJ Arizona is well known for its year-round events, including farmer's markets, festivals, fairs, craft shows and rodeos. A staple of all of these occasions are numerous vendors that offer customers a wide variety of goods and services. The Arizona Department of Revenue (ADOR) reminds those who host these events and on-site sellers to heed the potential tax compliance requirements for these events. TPT license considerations: • Vendors may need a state transaction privilege tax (TPT) and use tax license and can register on AZTaxes.gov to file and pay online. • All individuals and businesses making sales, including selling crafts (even considered a hobby), are required by the Department of Revenue to be licensed and responsible for TPT. This is required even if selling only one time per year at special events. • Promoters organizing a special event may also need a TPT license. (Please note: The TPT Short Form Application is no longer being used) • Businesses employing personnel during a special event (other than family members) may need to register for Arizona withholding tax. Tips to determine TPT license steps for special events: • Vendors and promoters are encouraged to apply for a TPT license online at AZTaxes.gov. • The Arizona Joint Tax Application is used to apply for transaction privilege tax, use tax, withholding and unemployment insurance. • If the business is seasonal (no more than eight months) or a transient vendor, they need to indicate the months in which the business will be conducted in Arizona. • Transient businesses are to be licensed using their home base as the business location. • Businesses that operate at more than one location must be licensed for each location, but can choose to obtain separate license numbers for each location or report on a consolidated license. For more information, please visit azdor.gov or contact LicenseCompliance@azdor.gov. Tax compliance requirements for special events

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