California tax bites get hard to digest

The L.A. Daily News reports:

Stung by one of the highest state tax rates in the nation, Californians soon could be paying even more if officials and voters approve an array of new bond measures and taxes now under consideration.

Already on the November ballot are nearly $17 billion in statewide bonds, ranging from $9.95 billion for a high-speed passenger train system linking Southern California to the Bay Area, to $5 billion that would give motorists cash rebates for buying fuel-efficient vehicles.

The Los Angeles Unified School District is asking voters to approve a $7 billion bond measure for school construction and charters. The city of Los Angeles is seeking a $36-a-year parcel tax on all properties to fund anti-gang programs.

Los Angeles County's Board of Supervisors is trying to place the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's proposed half-percent sales-tax increase on the ballot.

The Los Angeles Community College District is seeking $3.5 billion in bonds for construction projects.

Meanwhile, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed raising the statewide sales tax by 1percent for three years.

"What's happening is the taxpayers are under assault like we've never seen before," said Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association. "We have not seen an assault on taxpayers of this magnitude since the tax revolt leading up to Proposition 13 three decades ago.

You'll want to read the whole article.What a bad place to do business.