Fury as LA county faces extra tax hike on everything — as sole lawmaker votes against it

A new tax hike on residents that would spike the cost of almost everything — including shopping, dining and other everyday purchases across the county — was approved Tuesday by LA County Supervisors to head to voters.

But because the tax would apply to retail sales and restaurant purchases, it was quickly trashed by opponents who say it raises prices for families regardless of whether they use affected health care services.

Lone Republican Supervisor Kathryn Barger cast the only no vote on the board — which passed 4–1.

Supervisors Hilda Solis and Holly Mitchell pushed the half-cent sales tax they say will help counter looming federal health care funding cuts that threaten Medi-Cal services.

Barger said she believed the state should help rather than taxpayers and added she was concerned the tax money was not earmarked for health care costs and would go into the general fund, giving officials other choices on how it gets spent.

“We are not, as a whole, credible when it comes to promises made, promises broken,” she told the Los Angeles Times.

The sales tax hike will now be on the ballot for LA County voters in June, if approved it would cost an extra 50 cents in sales tax to buy a $100 dress, for example. If you were to buy a car for $100,000, the final cost would include an extra $500 in sales tax, on top of the current LA County sales tax rate of 9.75%.

If passed, the sales tax rate for LA County would go up to 10.25%.

Opposition to the possible new tax has been swift and loud.

Susan Shelley, vice president of communications for the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, called the proposal “unreasonable,” saying sales taxes are regressive and hit those least able to afford them. 

“They just immediately reach for tax increases,” she told The California Post, adding that the county isn’t addressing root causes like fraud and overspending. 

“Taxes are already very high, and people are very burdened by it.” 

Shelley accused the county of trying to tax its way out of its problems.

The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association is a nonpartisan watchdog dedicated to protecting Proposition 13 and opposing tax hikes in California.

“Why should less affluent Los Angeles County residents be required to pay more for clothes, school supplies, and motor vehicles, especially when the sales tax burden is already so high?” Marc Joffe, a visiting fellow at California Policy Center, wrote in an opinion piece for the Daily Bulletin.

Health care officials backing the measure argue the tax is necessary to prevent cuts to critical services.

“The ballot measure that we are proposing is an urgent and necessary step to stop the damage and protect access to life-saving care,” Louise McCarthy, president and CEO of the Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County, told CalMatters. “The stakes right now could not be higher.”

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