Mary Jo Conley lines up shopping carts at the Twin City Christian Service Center, a food bank in Uhrichsville. Clients in need hand off an order form to a worker at the food bank, who then fills the order.
Los Angeles, California – Starting Tuesday, residents and businesses across Los Angeles County will see higher sales taxes on everything from everyday purchases to major expenses like cars. The increase comes after voters approved Measure A last November, which raises the countywide sales tax from 9.5% to 9.75% to fund homeless services and prevention efforts.
The tax hike will remain in place indefinitely unless repealed by voters. However, the impact will vary by city. Long Beach residents will see their sales tax jump to 10.5%, while Santa Monica’s rate will climb to 10.75%. Some areas will experience even steeper increases—Palmdale and Lancaster will have an 11.25% sales tax after voters approved additional hikes to support local programs, public safety, and infrastructure improvements.
The increase has sparked mixed reactions. While some support the measure as a necessary step to address homelessness and improve local services, others worry about the financial strain on households and businesses already grappling with high costs of living.
For a complete look at the new sales tax rates by city, visit the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration’s website here.
