Sales tax increase isn’t small
The Ventura City Council is considering placing an initiative on the November ballot to increase our local sales tax by another 1%. While 1% might sound small, raising the rate from 7.25% to 8.25% is effectively a 13% increase over what you pay today.
This hike is designed to pull an additional $36 million, costing the average Ventura family an estimated $529 more per year. Our community is already facing a barrage of skyrocketing expenses water rates have increased 15.5%, already costing households an extra $51 per month. The Ventura WaterPure Program is now over $1.2 billion project and will add another $658 million to our property taxes. Once these bonds pass, expect monthly water bills to exceed $400. Everyday inflation has added another $1 more per gallon for gasoline, prescription drug costs have jumped 30%, and top state income tax rates recently increased from 13.3% to 14.4%.
The city will claim they need this money for basic infrastructure like paving streets and funding public safety. However, these are core responsibilities that should always be prioritized in the annual budget…