Sunday San Diego Union-Tribune readers were treated to a review of the state sales tax hike that is coming on Wednesday. Anne Krueger's column ("State sales tax to take bigger bite soon") reminded us that California's sales tax will increase to 8.25 percent on April 1  I would be remiss if I did not once again send my thanks to Governor Schwarzenegger, the Democrat legislative majority and, especially, the six "Republicans" (Adams, Ashburn, Cogdill, Maldonado, Niello and Villines) who made it all possible. 

As Krueger noted, "It's no April Fools' joke." To add insult to injury, four San Diego County municipalities will have even higher sales taxes "because of increases their voters have approved."  While many citizens in the county will be coping with 8.75%, rates will be even higher in El Cajon, La Mesa, National City and Vista. 

A handy table accompanying the article listed the rates for the different cities.  El Cajon and National City shared the top "honors" at 9.75%, while La Mesa came in a close second at 9.5%. Vista stood at number 3 with 9.25%. Not to be outdone, Chula Vista could vault into a three-way tie for worst county sales environment on May 5 if its voters approve a 1% increase via mail-in voting.

As a resident of East County, I was dismayed to see two cities from that area at the top of the list. As a citizen of La Mesa who did not vote for Proposition L, I was less than amused to be reminded that this measure will be in effect for 20 years.  Nor was I happy to hear once again how "City officials said the tax was needed to reduce a $4 million budget deficit" when little was done to reduce City expenses, especially in the area of pension contributions.  But, that's a subject for another post.

The latter half of the article exposed a glaring disconnect between the viewpoints of elected officials and citizens. It was noted that El Cajon Mayor Mark Lewis is apparently unconcerned about the effects on local business of having the highest sales tax in the county: "I don't think anybody is going to get in their car and travel a couple miles to save a half-cent." Like his fellow mayor to the west, he affected an air of confidence that his constituents would keep in mind the outstanding municipal services they will undoubtedly receive for their additional tax dollars: "They can see the value of their half-cent.  We're spending it wisely."

Bill Henry, a long-time resident of El Cajon, had quite a different opinion. He stated, "We're just going to go right down the hill and do all our shopping in Santee."

Who's right?  Although the jury will be out at least for a quarter or two, my bias is in favor of the man who is trying to get the most out of money he has earned, through his own labor, over the man who is spending other people's money and raising taxes when he needs more.

Then today, I received the following in my email inbox: