Southern California - 9.75 percent in Los Angeles

That's our new sales tax rate as of today. I'll keep buying from my LBS because I like the guys that own the place, but the tax rate is enough to make me consider transacting all big purchases online.

montana has no sales tax and they have a budget surplus. of course they dont have illegal aliens.....

Well...the state government has proven to be so responsible with the rest of the money we give them, why not give them some more? Maybe it will fund something new like "GIANT" (Gay Illegal Aliens for New Trains).

Well...the state government has proven to be so responsible with the rest of the money we give them, why not give them some more? Maybe it will fund something new like "GIANT" (Gay Illegal Aliens for New Trains).

I guess it's good we cycle. It won't be long before it will be way too expensive to drive. That sales tax increase will also effect gasoline prices. These mass transit projects will run out of money way before they are ever completed. Sorry to rant, I am just so disappointed with the state of this state.

Who wants to be Governor?

Who wants to be Governor?

It will take a fighter that is not interested in being popular. Things might be a little easier for the next governor, decisions are easier to make when there are no alternatives.

10 percent in chicago. I honestly thought there was some kind of error when I first went to the store here. Just one more reason I can't see myself staying in the city.

10 percent in chicago. I honestly thought there was some kind of error when I first went to the store here. Just one more reason I can't see myself staying in the city.

Wow! Seems like any state that has a big city has a big sales tax rate. The reason is obvious but I've already gotten too political here.

Who wants to be Governor?

Actually, I think I'd love a chance at being Governor of California. (Not that this is anything other than a pipe dream.)

I think that the current problems wouldn't be so difficult to fix. So long as the person in charge has the balls to actually stand up to the legislature which is destroying our state and mean it. There are lots of solutions which can work to change things for the better. Of course none of those solutions means that government employees get to keep their jobs. But how is that different than what is going to happen anyway?

*Part-time legislature.
*A "slight" fix to Prop 13 to get rid of the protections for corporate held commercial and income property.
*A perm ban on hew home and business construction until the water problem can be overcome.
*No new pork spending projects like the high speed rail line from SF to LA.

There are other things that can be done. But for now, the first thing to do is sign the stupid unrealistic budget so that the State doesn't go bankrupt. Then, DEMAND that the legislature do the other things by end of August "or else."

Actually, I think I'd love a chance at being Governor of California. (Not that this is anything other than a pipe dream.)

I think that the current problems wouldn't be so difficult to fix. So long as the person in charge has the balls to actually stand up to the legislature which is destroying our state and mean it. There are lots of solutions which can work to change things for the better. Of course none of those solutions means that government employees get to keep their jobs. But how is that different than what is going to happen anyway?

*Part-time legislature.
*A "slight" fix to Prop 13 to get rid of the protections for corporate held commercial and income property.
*A perm ban on hew home and business construction until the water problem can be overcome.
*No new pork spending projects like the high speed rail line from SF to LA.

There are other things that can be done. But for now, the first thing to do is sign the stupid unrealistic budget so that the State doesn't go bankrupt. Then, DEMAND that the legislature do the other things by end of August "or else."


thats about the stupidest reply i have ever seen.

Some naive opinions here IMHO. Schwarzenegger tried to "stand up to the legislature" early on. If the last several years has taught us anything, it's that the bureaucracy in our State & Federal Governments makes it nearly impossible to make any significant changes. Add to that, our lawmakers continue to come up with new laws and regulations that cost us more and create more bureaucracy. Wait 'til Villarigosa (don't care if I misspelled his name...I'm not going to look it up) becomes Governor, we're going to see more and more of the same. We need a complete overhaul of our Government but it's unlikely that will happen in my lifetime.

As for the high-speed rail, we have no-one to blame than ourselves as we voted for it. It boggled my mind that the proposition passed but it did.

And now...back to my pose.

Only two things can result in positive change. One, the people will have to vote in a manner that will change the composition on the state legislature. Two, the fiscal emergency will result in the necessary spending cuts being made. But you can see the resistance. Right now during the worst economic conditions we have seen in a long time, the state and cities are raising taxes and fighting any cuts to the bitter end. By this time next year a 9.75 percent sales tax will probably sound good.

I can move this little thread to P&R if you want.

I should add that part of the sales tax increase - VOTER APPROVED. At least 1% I think (Prop A, C, Measure R). The increase in Los Angeles County is going to mass transit projects - like extending the subway west, adding the Downtown Connector, and other rail lines that will help.

California is a beautiful state and I enjoy spending months there at a time, I wish they will fix up the economy a little. I guess that is the tax for the good it offers

I can move this little thread to P&R if you want.

It's a Los Angeles subject. I think the thread will die quick enough. Thanks.

I can move this little thread to P&R if you want.

Please don't. We Socal-ers get cranky when our threads are moved.

(Inserted before the lock)

Token response about how I think some group that I'm not a part of (the rich, boat owners, cigarette smokers, Flemish speakers, etc.) should pay more taxes to cover the shortfall.

Disappointed. I thought this was about a 9.75% climb in Los Angeles.

Disappointed. I thought this was about a 9.75% climb in Los Angeles.
Me too. I thought there were going to be pictures, grade signs, the whole bit.

As for the taxes, all nice places have high taxes. It gets rid of the riff-raff.

I can move this little thread to P&R if you want.I know that R stands for recumbent but what's the P for?

My first act as Governor will be to sink this state right into the ocean and give it a good 45 day soak.

Me too. I thought there were going to be pictures, grade signs, the whole bit.

As for the taxes, all nice places have high taxes. It gets rid of the riff-raff.

I didn't mean to mislead anyone. I just made a sizeable purchase and it was mentioned that the sales tax increased today. At some point the sales tax could get high enough that I would consider buying online and deny my LBS any business. I guess that my LBS would qualify as the "riff-raff" that we should be getting rid of.

In any event ChadRider this belongs in P+R and should be moved there. Thanks.

Well...the state government has proven to be so responsible with the rest of the money we give them, why not give them some more?
We're not giving them more. We're actually giving them less because all these taxes and unemployed people who can't get a job because even the businesses are being taxed to death means the spending will decrease, effectively decreasing the total tax.

If only a politician would reduce taxes during financial crisis to promote economic growth, I wonder how that would turn out... oh wait, that did happen before, and it worked!!!

I can move this little thread to P&R if you want.


Hey when did you become a blue star? Where have I been? :)

If only a politician would reduce taxes during financial crisis to promote economic growth, I wonder how that would turn out... oh wait, that did happen before, and it worked!!!

You've got my vote. Is BF enough of a political force to get you in as Governor?

We're not giving them more. We're actually giving them less because all these taxes and unemployed people who can't get a job because even the businesses are being taxed to death means the spending will decrease, effectively decreasing the total tax.

If only a politician would reduce taxes during financial crisis to promote economic growth, I wonder how that would turn out... oh wait, that did happen before, and it worked!!!

Riiiiiiiiight...and I'm sure they will lower the rate when unemployment goes down. You're preaching to the choir about taxation as I'm a business owner. The thing that a lot of people don't understand is that many of the new laws that the government passes simply cost businesses more money to comply. Few are good laws as many are drafted by someone who doesn't really understand the subject in the first place.

You've got my vote. Is BF enough of a political force to get you in as Governor?
I never said I would do that. I'd take lavish vacations all over the world on the taxpayer's dime and accept bribes for pomoting BS laws. Hey, the only difference between me and a real politician is I'm honest! :D

taxes... hill gradients... no difference, they all make us work harder.

Disappointed. I thought this was about a 9.75% climb in Los Angeles.

:roflmao2:

The folks in South Gate (http://www.boe.ca.gov/sutax/pdf/Pending_Rates.pdf) thought they weren't being taxed enough so they added another 1% bringing it up to 10.75% but at least they're happy (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/story/print?guid=1D4341A8-3053-4CC0-B83F-7E84A5089B1D).

Calif does not have the highest sales tax rate for a state... Tennessee does. = 9.4%. Chicago city is 10.25%. Ten states have sales taxes over 8%. Five states have doubled their sales tax during 2009.
.
https://thestc.com/STRates.stm

Calif does not have the highest sales tax rate for a state... Tennessee does. = 9.4%. Chicago city is 10.25%. Ten states have sales taxes over 8%. Five states have doubled their sales tax during 2009.
.
https://thestc.com/STRates.stm

Sales taxes are a city/county issue. That chart reports the averages by state, so it's pretty worthless for comparisons. (it reports Illinois in the 8% range.)

You can be sure it's much worse in NYC, and I'm not surprised that Chicago's is so high. (insert your own assumption about corrupt Chicago politics here.)

We're not giving them more. We're actually giving them less because all these taxes and unemployed people who can't get a job because even the businesses are being taxed to death means the spending will decrease, effectively decreasing the total tax.

If only a politician would reduce taxes during financial crisis to promote economic growth, I wonder how that would turn out... oh wait, that did happen before, and it worked!!!

Seems logical until you look at the laffer curve and find that even with Obama raising taxes we still aren't even at equaliberium. When Reagan lowered taxes they were FAR too high, taxes were FAR too low for the past few years and that's what helped get us into this mess.

Seems logical until you look at the laffer curve and find that even with Obama raising taxes we still aren't even at equaliberium. When Reagan lowered taxes they were FAR too high, taxes were FAR too low for the past few years and that's what helped get us into this mess.

Incorrect.

Sales taxes are a city/county issue. That chart reports the averages by state, so it's pretty worthless for comparisons. (it reports Illinois in the 8% range.)

You can be sure it's much worse in NYC, and I'm not surprised that Chicago's is so high. (insert your own assumption about corrupt Chicago politics here.)

Roof.. Did you put in zip codes for specific cities.. Looked to me, like the website calculated city sales tax, atop state sales tax. Some counties even had a sales tax..

Seems logical until you look at the laffer curve and find that even with Obama raising taxes we still aren't even at equaliberium. When Reagan lowered taxes they were FAR too high, taxes were FAR too low for the past few years and that's what helped get us into this mess.

Anyone? Anyone? Something D-O-O economics...Voodoo economics.

What got us into this mess is over-spending, pet-projects, people spending well beyond their means, corruption, etc.

Seems logical until you look at the laffer curve and find that even with Obama raising taxes we still aren't even at equaliberium. When Reagan lowered taxes they were FAR too high, taxes were FAR too low for the past few years and that's what helped get us into this mess.
I'm not sure what basis you use to decide that our tax was too low, but I disagree.




What got us into this mess is over-spending, pet-projects, people spending well beyond their means, corruption, etc.
Agreed.

My wife and I were holding off on buying a house or trying for children because we felt we couldn't afford it. When I found out people who made half as much as we do were buying houses for close to $1 million, and banks were actually approving zero down loans for them, I was shocked.

Question: What radical right-wing cook said the following?

"The tax on capital gains directly affects investment decisions
, the mobility and flow of risk capital... the ease or difficulty experienced by new ventures in obtaining capital, and thereby the strength and potential for growth in the economy. "

and

“It is a paradoxical truth that tax rates are too high today, and that tax revenue is too low, and the soundest way to balance the budget is to cut taxes now. Only full employment can balance the budget, and tax cuts will pave the way to full employment”

Both of them came from John F. Kennedy. I'd take Harry Truman or JFK over the current crop of idiots any day of the week. Truman was the last president to leave the White House in relative obscurity and without massive wealth. A politicians worth as a public servant is often inversely proportional to their financial worth.