Half-Cent Transit Tax Ballot Measure OKd

Los Angeles County Supervisors on Tuesday authorized a Nov. 6 ballot measure that would raise the sales tax by a half-cent for public transit projects, despite a measure seeking more money for jails.

If approved, the two measures would be in conflict because the sales tax would exceed the 7 1/4% cap imposed by the Legislature. The tax is now 6 3/4%, leaving only a half-cent increase available. To solve the problem, the Legislature last week approved a measure allowing the jails and the transit sector to share the new revenue on a quarter-cent basis.

The transportation measure is known as the Anti-Gridlock Transit Improvement Fund. It would raise about $400 million a year, which could be designated for improved public transit. The competing measure would raise a similar sum for construction and operation of jails.