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.

[stands2reason]

There's nothing wrong with California. In fact, Grey Davis is about average for a governor. There are no more liberals there than in any other state. How's that, Joe?

[ThinkDifferent]

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...

Yet another reason we should abolish the IRS and switch to a national sales tax. Income taxes are hidden via withholding (and the fiction of "corporate" taxes), but you see a sales tax every time you spend money.

[Uncle Hal]

I tell you folks this increase in taxes has got be stopped. Thank god for the 2/3 requirement to increase taxes. The Republicans in the legislature must stand tough and stop any tax increase.If there was no 2/3 requirement taxes would be out of sight.

[BearArms]

It may not be politically correct to mention this, but as long as California's hispanic population continues to grow, there will be no end to this problem. The Democrats will continue to dominate the state, and they will just get more liberal and more liberal as their hispanic voter base becomes more powerful. Add to this the fact that the more affluent are already beginning an exodus to places like Nevada and Arizona (according to what I've read), and you have a recipe for unmitigated disaster. California could soon implode under the weight of it's ridiculous spending and tax policies, and almost entirely as a result of demographic changes.

[CyberAnt]

Hmmmm? Looks like I won't be shopping in CA - I'll do my shopping on the internet!

[ezo4]

?????????? What

[HighWheeler]

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

Beautiful. Just Beautiful. You should run for governor! Why haven't the RATS thought of that?

[gitmo]

Kick a state while it's down.

[Euro-American Scum]

What is happening to that state. Geeeez!

It's called implosion. Ours is the last company in a once-thriving business complex in Irvine. And we're closing up shop by Labor Day, and laying everybody off. It just isn't worth the hassle for the company to do business in California anymore.

[NormsRevenge]

Sorry to hear that. This state used to be one hell of an economic dynamo... before the socialists took over.

[Gritty]

The band playing waltzes on the quarter-deck need to crank up the volume.

The sound of feet slowly shuffling toward the lifeboats is becoming more noticeable!

[Euro-American Scum]

This state used to be one hell of an economic dynamo... before the socialists took over.

It makes you wonder what all the illegals and deadbeats will do once there are no more achievers to suck dry anymore.

[Maximum Leader]

Sickening, 9% sales tax AND a 9% income tax.

Was just talking to my cousin in LA about this last night.
He's a screenwriter and now that's he making good money, he can't believe his income taxes will be around half of his income (and he has to factor in the 10% his agent gets).

The problem is the legislature knows that there are a lot of high income people in Silicon Valley and Hollywood who can't move out of state because they're in businesses where networking is critical to success.

[BJungNan]

and they ask why they don't replace the income tax with a sales tax. They can't. No one would tolerate 25% sales tax.

Government spends too much.