Author Marc Joffe argues that sales tax in Los Angeles County keeps rising: San Gabriel's rate reached 11% after Measure ER, and Measure PS would push it to 12%, the highest in California. Lancaster and Palmdale already charge 11.75%, while Diamond Bar, Hermosa Beach and the city of Los Angeles have measures on the November 3 ballot to raise rates further. According to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, California's lowest-income households pay 7.6% of income in sales and excise taxes, versus 1% for the wealthiest. The piece compares rates with New York (8.875%) and Boston (6.25%) and argues that revenue grows automatically with prices and economic activity. California's General Fund sales and use tax collections rose from about $19.2 billion in 2011-12 to $35 billion in 2024-25, even though the 3.9375% rate stayed the same.
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