Our county sales tax went from 7.5% to 7.75% on 1 January, 2002. The increase of .25% was for the state, and it was a complete stealth increase. Most people still don't even realize that there was an increase. I carry around a receipt dated 31 December 2001 to show the old rate and a receipt dated 2 January 2002 to show the new rate.
Our property taxes have limits that can be applied each year due to prop 13. The newer home buyers get clobbered. However, as I told my son and DIL who moved into a new home last year, they are the primary reasons for the increases. They are in a new development with new roads, sewers, water mains, increased fire and police protection.
Our state income taxes are a good size hammer. Then the rats are constantly coming up with new fees or investments as they call new taxes.
7.25% CA state sales tax, plus up to 1% county sales tax, plus up to 0.5% city sales tax.
Including the county tax, these are the sales tax rates along the Southern California coast:
Santa Barbara 7.75%
Ventura...... 7.25%
Los Angeles.. 8.25% *
Orange....... 7.75%
San Diego.... 7.75%
* In the city of Avalon on Catalina Island, the sales tax is the highest in CA: 8.75%.