CA: Davis faces dilemma on car tax hike

Sac Bee ^ | 1/31/03 | John Hill

[NormsRevenge]

Give in to demands from fellow Democrats that he nearly triple vehicle license fees, or veto the fee hike but risk signaling to Wall Street that he and lawmakers can't manage the state's budget crisis.

The Assembly earlier this week approved a measure making $8.6 billion in midyear cuts sought by the governor contingent on his agreeing to a measure that could trigger the increase in annual car fees.

[Semper Paratus]

If this keeps up the only people moving into California will be illegal aliens.

[John123]

Budget cuts are contingent on Tax increases? Why can't you cut the fat from the California payroll? I own a business and get stupid questionaires all the time. Someone has the type up the questions, mail the questionaires and enter the data into computers. Cut those people!

[Rain-maker]

Anybody with any smarts would be moving to a tax free state like Nevada or Wyoming, unless you like government parasites sucking your paycheck dry.They still need to develop new power generating facilities, and lets not forget the severe drought in southern CA.

California dreaming is a summer of blackouts,water shortages, and high tax.
hmmm...lovely, Yugoslavia sounds better...LOL

[keithtoo]

What, exactly are the current vehicle license fees in CA? And what are they proposing to be raised to?

This is typical of leftist media nonsense. They dont dare show the numbers because then the tax pillage can be seen and the expected reaction against tax raises will be fueled.

Show us the numbers you are talking about so the governmental greed can be shown for all to see!

[rangerX]

I paid about $340 for my Chevy one-ton pickup a couple months ago. My tax would go up to over $1000 on that truck alone, not to mention my other vehicles.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I thought I read where a Cal license plate was going to cost abouty $450 or $500...
Surely someone from the Left Coast can correct me if I'm out of line here.

[NormsRevenge]

Im sure many FR folks in CA will be able to provide some specifics. But an example might be someone buys a new car and pays $25,000 for the auto. The next year,vehicle license fees when renewed cost them at the current rate of $400. Under the proposed fee increase plans, that yearly fee could triple, ie, $1,200. These are estimated figures, by the way.

A few years ago, the fees were cut by 1/3 when things were good, ie, dough was rolling in faster then socialzits in Stinkytimento could spend it.

Well, these days are gone, and one of the easy ways out for the demRatic socialists to get over is to re-impose higher vehicle license fees.

It is very much like shooting fish in a barrel, where do we go,? Sell our cars, take public transporation, ride bicycles? Or Hold TaX Protests that may eventually lead to out and out Tax Rebellion?

[FITZ]

Republicans in both chambers oppose the Democratic plan to raise license fees

The Republicans lost big time in California so they should just sit back and let the Democrats solve the problems they themselves have created.

[william clark]

If the good Lord came down off the cross...

Talk about being behind the curve.

[NormsRevenge]

make that "fees were cut by 2/3"

[Poohbah]

It is very much like shooting fish in a barrel, where do we go?

Some other state :o)

[Inspectorette]

What, exactly are the current vehicle license fees in CA? And what are they proposing to be raised to?

We just got our DMV license renewal on our '99 Dodge Durango. It's $136.00. If it went to 2% of the book value (approx. $13,000) we'd pay $260.

It's not due until the end of March, but hubby and I are going to pay it next week, just in case. (Of course, even if we pay early, this lovely state wouldn't hesitate to come back and hit us again if it gets raised :-(

[Inspectorette]

It is very much like shooting fish in a barrel, where do we go,? Sell our cars, take public transporation, ride bicycles? Or Hold TaX Protests that may eventually lead to out and out Tax Rebellion

We'd like to get a new vehicle to replace our '96 Dodge Intrepid, but we're probably going to wait three years. By then, we'll be living in Oregon: no sales tax, and $35/year license fee.

[Veggie Todd]

What, exactly are the current vehicle license fees in CA? And what are they proposing to be raised to?

I don't know the percentage now, but they want to raise the fee to equal 2% of the vehicle's value.

[Poohbah]

That must be "2% of what they SAY it's worth."

[concentric circles]

No one seems to be in a real hurry to do anything which makes me think that they know the budget deficit has been overstated.

Remember the Chapman University study using standard accounting procedures that showed the deficit to be less than 6 billion for this year and less than 5 billion for next year.

And there's Tom McClintock's "1-2-3 plan" lurking in the background: 1) suspend mandated spending increases and cut back current spending by 9.5% for 18 months; 2) have an independent panel study all state programs and recommend a package of streamlining cuts for a single up or down vote; and 3) a state constitutional amendment limiting spending to current revenue. Oh yes, and no new taxes needed.

Fat chance, but one could hope.

[sheik yerbouty]

If this passes, I won't buy a new car while I still live under the Caliban.

[keithtoo]

Man that is nuts! How can you CA residents let yourselves get screwed like that? Forget the increase, $340 a year is outrageous to begin with.

We'd hang the legislator who tries to tax us that much in TX.

Once they find out you are screw-able, they'll ALWAYS come back for more.