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HIGHER FEES AND TAXES

Gov. Gray Davis proposed raising taxes and fees $8.3 billion on Friday, to pay for state services. Here are some of the highlights:

-- An increase in the sales tax rate by one percentage point (a penny on each dollar).

-- Adding a 10 and an 11 percent personal income tax rate for high income earners, up from 9.3 percent.

-- Increasing the tax on cigarettes by $1.10 a pack.

-- Unspecified fee increases at the University of California and the California State University system to cover part of $373 million and $326 million in cuts, respectively.

-- An increase in the cost for identification cards issued by the Department of Motor Vehicle from $6 to $20. Cards will be free for seniors.

-- Increasing vehicle registration fees by $3.

-- An increase in the cost of a noncommercial driver's licenses from $12 to $24 for a five-year license.

-- A quarter-of-a-cent "public safety surcharge" on all phone calls.

-- A new court security fee of $20 per court filing.

-- Raising trial motion fees from $23 to $33.

-- Increasing community college fees from $11 per unit to $24 per unit.

-- A parent co-pay for services provided to minors living at home and receiving services from regional Department of Developmental Services centers. The fee will be on a sliding scale and apply only to families earning more than 200 percent of the federal poverty level.

Holy cow, Davis ain't messing around. He's sticking it to everybody. Of course he's going to stick it to the smokers, that's a given. The higher fees for college makes me really sick, but since there aren't any jobs for you when you do graduate...why bother going in the first place?

The last one has me stumped. Can anyone translate it for me?