Life in Los Angeles County became more expensive Thursday as the county sales tax increased by half a percent, bringing the total rate to 10.25%.
This increase is due to Measure ER, a ballot proposition that narrowly passed in the June primary election. Some communities will see even higher rates, with Santa Monica shoppers facing 11.25% and Palmdale residents paying 11.75%, which the New York Post reports as the highest in the nation. The measure, intended to fund healthcare, is projected to last for five years.
The Board of Supervisors placed Measure ER on the ballot, with Supervisor Kathryn Barger casting the sole dissenting vote. Voters approved the measure despite concerns about the high cost of living in California, which had been identified as a top issue in the election cycle.
Measure ER's passage was narrow, decided by a margin of just over 1%, or 25,770 votes, in the most populous county in the United States. Initially, the measure appeared to be failing, similar to tax increase proposals rejected in San Francisco and San Diego during the same election. However, the count of late-arriving ballots ultimately tipped the scales in favor of Measure ER.
The article suggests that tax increases in California are often approved when presented as funding for a beneficial cause, citing examples of tax measures for homeless funding that critics argue have been mismanaged. It posits that this approach can lead to voters being "swindled" into approving tax hikes by politicians.
The new tax is expected to disproportionately affect working families, as consumer spending constitutes a larger portion of their income compared to higher earners. The measure's increase applies to all goods and services subject to sales tax across the county.