An opinion piece by Marc Joffe argues that Los Angeles County sales taxes have become excessive. San Gabriel's rate rose to 11% on October 1 under Measure ER, and Measure PS would push it to 12%, the highest in California. The author cites Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy data showing California's lowest-income households pay 7.6% of income in sales and excise taxes, versus 1% for the wealthiest 1%. He also notes that state General Fund sales tax collections rose about 82% from 2011-12 to 2024-25 without a rate increase, and argues governments should cut spending instead of raising rates.
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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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Although the wealth of the rich has surged worldwide, the number of countries levying an annual net wealth tax has shrunk, from 12 European countries in 1990 to only Norway, Spain and Switzerland. France scrapped its wealth tax in 2018 over fears of capital flight, replacing it with a tax on worldwide real estate assets above €1.3 million. An ESRI report finds Irish household wealth reached €927 billion in 2023, about two-and-a-half times higher than a decade earlier and mostly held in family homes, with the top 10% controlling close to 50% of wealth. Asset-related taxes in Ireland still raise less than €6 billion in 2025, out of more than €105 billion in total tax revenue. The report finds a wealth tax would raise significant sums only with a wide base including businesses, farms and homes: at a €500,000 threshold and 1% rate, a narrow base of financial assets would raise under €450 million a year, versus close to €3 billion for all assets.
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