Would transit tax scheme push Bay Area cities past the high-tax boiling point?
It’s not a club you want to join: cities that could break past 11% sales tax rate this November. The regressive half-cent transit tax for boondoggle bailouts wants to soak the poor and blast small businesses in Oakland and Berkeley.
Are you not yet boiling, Oakland?
“Oakland sales tax rate has more than doubled since the 1960s and would crack the 11% threshold if the Bay Area Transit Tax passes. This only stops when voters realize that they are like frogs being boiled and start telling the bureaucrats to stop.”
Feeling the burn
“Lexus, Acura, Toyota, etc. have dealerships in Oakland. You'll pay an extra $5500 for $50K car. You can try to find something in one of the few remaining places in the state that collect 7.25%. Is it worth driving somewhere else to save $1875? Does it impact businesses in our high sales tax areas in the Bay Area? Are we at 180 degrees but not boiling yet?”
Fahrenheit 451 plus 11.25% sales tax for Berkeley bookstores
“Berkeley voters likely to face 2 sales taxes in November: the regional transit tax plus a city tax. If both pass, total sales tax in Berkeley will reach 11.25%. Not great for the surviving independent bookstores on Telegraph Avenue.”
Opportunity Now’s Will Sherman is the editor of Tax-Free Tuesday.
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