Tomorrow, to be exact, with more likely on the horizon. California already has the nation’s highest statewide sales tax rate at 7.25%. Tomorrow, another half-cent will be added to taxable purchases throughout Los Angeles County under Measure ER, approved by voters in June. The combined rate in the City of Los Angeles will rise from 9.75% to 10.25%. That’s $10.25 on top of every 100 bucks spent.
The increase will push Lancaster and Palmdale to 11.75%, among the highest combined sales tax rates in the country. Other cities face more than the countywide half-cent increase because previously approved city taxes also take effect October 1.
| Location | Current rate | October 1 rate | Increase |
| City of Los Angeles | 9.75% | 10.25% | 0.5 point |
| Burbank and Pasadena | 10.50% | 11.00% | 0.5 point |
| Calabasas and San Marino | 9.75% | 11.25% | 1.5 points |
| Lancaster and Palmdale | 11.25% | 11.75% | 0.5 point |
| Perris | 7.75% | 8.75% | 1 point |
| Red Bluff | 7.50% | 8.50% |
Combined sales and use tax rates; the tax applies to taxable purchases, not most ordinary groceries. Rates: California Department of Tax and Fee Administration.
Voters will see still more tax proposals on November 3. Los Angeles Measure FD would add another half-cent city sales tax ostensibly for the Fire Department, taking the city’s combined rate to 10.75% if approved. Diamond Bar and San Gabriel voters will consider one-cent city sales taxes; Hermosa Beach voters will consider a half-cent increase. Statewide, Proposition 40 proposes a one-time 5% tax on certain billionaires, while Proposition 3 would make existing higher income-tax rates permanent rather than letting them expire in 2031.
California Democrats hold a supermajority in Sacramento that is doing the bidding of the unions, and the state’s affordability crisis is fueled by their poor leadership. The October LA County increase and the proposed city taxes were or will be decided by local voters, but their effect on a household budget is straightforward: each added sales tax raises the price of taxable necessities such as clothing and household supplies–making living in LA less affordable, period. Officials may argue that the revenue funds essential services–but that assumes they are spending our money appropriately, for example on street repairs instead of illegal immigrant services. Californians struggling to afford everyday purchases can reasonably ask when government will control spending–never mind fixing the rampant waste and fraud–instead of returning to the checkout line–or property taxes–for more.
You have a chance to fix things. Ballots for the November 3 elections go out on or before October 5th across the state. Vote like your bank account depends on it, because it does.
AI helped compile this story
