When government faces financial pressure, the reflex too often is to reach for the taxpayer’s wallet.
That is exactly what is happening with the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors’ decision to place ahalf-cent sales tax increaseon the June ballot. I voted no because backfilling federal funding cuts on the backs of county taxpayers is just plain wrong.
LA County residents are already stretched thin. Inflation has driven up the price of groceries, gasoline, utilities, and insurance.Housing costs remain among the highestin the nation.
According to data reported by Bloomberg News, LA now carries the highest sales tax rate of any major metropolitan region in the country.
In several cities, consumers already pay 10.25 percent at the register. In Lancaster and Palmdale — two communities that were once considered amongst the most affordable in the region — the sales tax rate is now 11.25 percent.
This proposal would push those rates even higher.
Supporters argue that the county faces real healthcare funding challenges. That is true. But acknowledging a serious problem does not justify a flawed solution.
Raising taxes should not be government’s first response, especially when those taxes fall hardest on working families and seniors living on fixed incomes.
A sales tax increase does not distinguish between someone barely getting by and someone well off. For many families and individuals, there is no cushion left to absorb another increase.
There is also a broader economic consequence. Los Angeles County is already struggling to retain businesses. Employers weigh tax burdens when deciding where to expand, hire, or relocate. Increasing the sales tax further risks making our county less competitive and less attractive for consumers to shop and for businesses to operate. The result could be fewer jobs and less economic activity.
Source: California Post – Breaking California News, Photos & Videos
