California: 9% sales tax would rival highest in the nation

San Jose Mercury News ^ | June 5, 2003 | Mark Schwanhausser

[John Jorsett]

Santa Clara County shoppers would pay one of the highest sales taxes in the nation if voters were to increase the sales tax a quarter-cent to fund the struggling Valley Transportation Authority.

The proposal -- which could hit the ballot in November 2004 -- would boost the tax rate on cars, furniture, clothes and other goods a quarter-cent on every dollar, to 8.5 percent. Combine that with Gov. Gray Davis' bid to raise the statewide sales tax by a half-cent to help close a record state budget deficit, and the county's total sales-tax rate would jump to 9 percent.

[John Jorsett]

ping

[ezo4]

What is happening to that state. Geeeez!

[theDentist]

I can see the legislature salivating at the prospect right now.

[johniegrad]

But it might goose them to shop online at retailers that don't collect sales tax.

And guess what these money grubbers will come up with then..........

[dc27]

``There is definitely a point beyond which people will start rebelling. You don't want to do things to upset your voters.''

This only applies to intelligent voters. The high population areas in CA continue to vote for these idiots year after year.

[Guillermo]

Why don't they just raise it to 100%. Then all of their problems would be solved.

[NormsRevenge]

To Susan Simon who opined ..

``At least with the quarter-percent for transportation, I'm getting a better quality of life,'' said Simon, who lives in Saratoga. ``You can touch it, see it and feel it.''

Pathetic, more taxes to support mass transit ain't gonna do diddley to bail this state out.

Hey Susan! I got something here you can touch , see and feel. :-o

[kevkrom]

Interesting to see how sales taxes are more limiting (to the government) than income taxes. People seem to have no qualm mucking qround with income tax rates (especially if they are convinced that only the "evil rich" will feel the pinch), but try to raise the sales tax, and you get a dogfight every time...

[SpaceBar]

People who like to shop at Fry's will just love this.

[rontorr]

This is one reason that they will never be able to get the voters to approve a sales tax in Oregon, they can see how it just keeps going up, up, up. I remember 30 years ago when Cal. tax was only 3.5%, and no local sales taxes, and Premium Gas was 30 cents, (guess I'm getting old if I am talking like that)

[sticker]

Sales tax in Nashville is 9.25%

[stands2reason]

could boost real estate prices

No enough of that in California apparently...

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

A meltdown!

calgov2002:

calgov2002: for old calgov2002 articles. 

calgov2002: for new calgov2002 articles. 

Other Bump Lists at: Free Republic Bump List Register

[spokeshave]

This is entirely counter productive...when the sales tax gets to 9% tending to10% the barter "grey" economy takes off,....resulting in a preciptious drop in sales tax revenues.

You read it first here.

Thanks grey davis for a grey economy.

[Joe Hadenuf]

What is happening to that state. Geeeez!

The same thing that's happening in every state. What, you think the government actually plans on take less from you in the future? Read#12 for example.

[Grammy]

"Sales tax in Nashville is 9.25%"

At least we don't have an income tax (yet... thank you honkers)

[AdamSelene235]

Wow !

Let's see, now Cali has a 9% percent State income tax and now they want a 9% sales tax. That only leaves 83% of your income, and that's before Social Security and Federal taxes.

SS is 14% , the Average Federal taxes are 27.5%, then 9% sales and 9% income....That leaves 50% for the citizen.

Home of fee, land of the slave.

[Mark]

Worth another posting:

[heleny]

Good point. CA state income tax rates are among the highest in the nation. While the top tier is 9.3%, Davis and the democrats want to create 10% and 11% brackets. Having among the highest sales tax rates and the highest income tax rate, CA has very high combined taxes and should have little justification to raise taxes. If we had a real governor, he could put a stop to the tax increases instead of proposing them himself.

from the article: (San Francisco's rate would rise to 9 percent, too, under the state budget proposal.) But it would be a notch higher than Seattle (8.8 percent), Chicago (8.75 percent) and New York City (8.5 percent).

Illinois has a flat rate 3% income tax, New York's top bracket is 6.85%, and Washington state has no income tax.