LA Board Of Supervisors Vote To Support Tax Hike Initiative
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — In a 3-2 vote, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Tuesday endorsed Proposition 30, a tax hike initiative championed by Gov. Jerry Brown.
Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky wrote the motion in favor of the ballot measure that would raise the state sales tax by a quarter of a percent and raise the income tax for those who earn more than $250,000 a year.
"Voting 'no' is playing with fire in the state of California," he said.
Supervisor Gloria Molina said the county has a direct interest in Prop. 30 because it would guarantee that the state would pay for the cost of housing state prison inmates in county jails.
"In order for our counties to sustain and maintain that system…we need that constitutional guarantee," she said.
Only supervisors Michael Antonovich and Don Knabe registered their opposition to the tax hike.
"With Proposition 30, the state is still facing another $8 billion shortfall," Antonovich said.
Antonovich said California needs to get its financial house in order before it asks taxpayers to pick up the tab.
