Orange County

Tax Opponents Have Plenty to Chew On: After the decision last week to let voters decide on boosting the sales tax to help get Orange County out of bankruptcy, the discussions at Wednesday’s meeting of the Committees on Correspondence ought to be lively. The anti-tax organization is scheduled to hear a speech by UC Irvine Prof. Mark P. Petracca on “The Distribution of Political Power in Orange County.” The larger issue, however, is likely to be the County Board of Supervisors’ decision March 29 to hold a special election June 27 to let voters decide whether the sales tax should be increased by half a cent to 8.25%. That would be the same level as in Los Angeles--one of the highest in the state. County Chief Executive William J. Popejoy has said the increase is critical to maintaining property values and keeping the county from sinking into “Third World status.” The meeting is set for 7 p.m. in the Orange City Hall council chambers, 300 E. Chapman Ave. For more information, call (714) 528-2742 or (714) 633-6725.