Ontario is Oregon's Only City to Approve a General Sales Tax
Ontario City Council approved a one percent general sales tax increase, making it the only city in Oregon to have a retail sales tax. The cities of Ashland and Yachats both have sales tax on food and beverages, but no other city has a general sales tax. The city is on the Idaho border, and their lower sales tax attracts residents from the state. The city staff claims the visitors cost the city for road maintenance, policing, and other types of infrastructure.
The sales tax will go into effect next year, but it could still be overturned in a voter referendum. The new sales tax is estimated to generate $3.7 million each year. The revenue from the sales tax will help fund street repairs, law enforcement, parks, and other city services.
L.A. County Sales Tax to Fund Homeless Services Begins
A new sales tax that Los Angeles County voters passed in March to help combat homelessness is now in effect. The 1/4 of a cent raise will provide services and housing for the homeless. The new sales tax is expected to generate an estimated $355 million annually.
County agencies and nonprofit contractors have already started setting up teams to place people in rental units and help people sign up for disability benefits. The tax will expire in ten years, and the county must house 45,000 people within the first five years to prevent another 30,000 people from becoming homeless.
Pittsburg City Sales Tax Ends As Another Begins
A half-cent sales tax ended in Pittsburg, Kansas, but an additional quarter-cent sales tax has now gone into effect. The new sales tax is expected to generate an additional $1 million annually. The money from the sales tax will be used to improve streets and sidewalks. The overall sales tax in Pittsburg will now be nine percent.
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