Carpinteria officials are considering a sales tax increase that city staff say could provide a boost to strained local finances.
The city’s sales tax rate is currently 9%, just below the statutory cap of 9.25%. Adding a 0.25% transactions and use tax, commonly known as a TUT, could generate an estimated $694,500 annually in discretionary funds, according to city staff.
Officials say the city’s revenues are not keeping pace with rising expenditures, as increasing day-to-day costs continue to pressure the discretionary budget. Those funds help support essential services such as police and library operations…