Don Perata says California budget negotiations are finished
August 13, 2008
Don Perata says the Passion Play over California budget negotiations” is finished,” according to Jim Sanders of the Sacramento Bee. The proposal negotiated by Senate Democratic leaders with California Governor Arnold Scharzenegger, reportedly includes: a spending cap to limit annual state expenditures, a temporary 1-cent increase in the state sales tax, and a rainy-day fund to sock money away in boom years. Accroding to Sanders, “Perata did not elaborate on details of the proposed spending cap, but said it was intended to break the current standoff with Republicans.” Perata said the next step is to place the compromise spending plan before the Senate for a vote and that the settlement would require some Republicans to break ranks over the term “temporary.”
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5 Responses to “Don Perata says California budget negotiations are finished”
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Funny I did not see the word spending cuts. If we are going to have a tax increase then we need spending cuts.
To the Editor:
Generally speaking, there is nothing more permanent than a “temporary” tax.
A sales tax of 9.25% in Contra Costa County bears down most heavily on the lowest-income people. The current sales tax in the county is 8.25%.
A sales tax of 9.25% is bad for business and consumers. Remember, the more something costs, the less a person buys.
On a $50,000 car, the higher sales tax means paying $500 extra for the vehicle.
If the sales tax does go up by one percentage point, there must be a provision in the legislation that the higher sales tax will disappear no later than June 30, 2009.
Californians should hope that the State Legislature defeats this horrible sales tax increase.
Residents of Contra Costa County make make a strong effort to ensure that the county government does not increase the sales tax to an ever higher percentage.
Richard Colman
Orinda, CA
Aug. 14, 2008
I am horrified by this budget crisis. I have friends that have lost their jobs that support their families ,why is california being governed by a movie star anyway , he don’t care about the people of this state and their families , he’s rich. Why is he playing around with peoples lives and the legislature should be ashamed not placing this crisis in the highest priority , while they are on vacation enjoying the sun peoples lives are in turmoil. Shame on them for allowing things to get this bad.
To Renegade GOP:
There are spending cuts included in all of the current plans - major cuts to very vulnerable individuals, including children, the disabled, and the elderly.
To Richard Coleman,
The County does not have any ability to increase the sales tax, so you are safe there. Anything the County could do in the way of any type of tax would required a vote of the electorate. Don’t count on the sales tax going away by 2009 - it will take longer than that for the State to get back on a stronger footing. You are absolutely correct regarding the impact this will have to the low income individuals in our community.
These two comments make it evident why we need to revisit property tax on yachts, increase the top income backet and the vehicle license fee to what it used to be, and amend the way Prop 13 impacts businesses.
Also - the State is being governed by a movie start because the people of California thought he could do the job and voted him into office - twice.
That is fine if we are going to raise taxes then spending cuts are worth it. Compromise is not the enemy of the good.