State looks at a large tax hike

Re “Gov. pushes hike in sales tax, big cuts,” Nov. 7

Now, let’s see if I understand this correctly: On Tuesday, Nov. 4, we approved additional sales taxes for Los Angeles County with Proposition R, a 0.5-cent tax on the dollar, plus Proposition 1A for a bullet train for California. Then on Friday, Nov. 7, The Times reported that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is asking for a sales-tax increase -- 1.5 cents on the dollar -- to fund the state coffers. Also in Friday’s Times, there is a report that the Department of Water and Power wants to increase our bills so they can install solar panels.

This would put our sales tax above 10%. Has everyone gone completely out of their collective minds? If our esteemed leaders are trying to concoct a recipe to totally kill business in this state, they have succeeded.

Michelle Zweig

Marina del Rey

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Shortly after Gov. Gray Davis trounced his Republican opponent’s reelection bid, the GOP initiated a very successful recall campaign against him when he rightly proposed to increase revenue by restoring automobile registration rates. Now Schwarzenegger wants to raise taxes to do exactly what Davis’ proposal would have done many months ago -- increase revenue.

Guess what, voters: Republicans raise taxes plenty -- and when they don’t, they borrow against our sons’ and daughters’ futures instead.

Stephen Netherlain

Lake Forest

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Schwarzenegger wishes to impose a statewide sales-tax hike after voters chose to increase the sales tax in Los Angeles County.

While I am a proponent of taxation for the common good and have no objection to paying taxes, I agree with those Republicans who believe that increasing the sales tax would further hurt local businesses and hinder economic recovery.

I suggest that perhaps it might be more fair and more profitable to tax Internet sales. When considering a purchase, I weigh the sales tax that I would pay at a local, brick-and-mortar store versus the shipping costs of an out-of-state business. Often, if the online, out-of-state store offers free shipping, they get my business.

An Internet sales tax coupled with lowering the in-state sales tax might encourage people to buy from local businesses.

Debra L. Wiley

Inglewood

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If our governor is sincere in trying to close the gap between revenues and expenses, he should look seriously at one of the greatest sources of untaxed wealth in California -- religious organizations. These groups have benefited enormously from public funds for years without paying a cent in taxes, and in recent years they have become active political organizations as well.

It is time to recognize these groups for what they are and to tax their revenues accordingly. Then maybe the governor will leave my golf green fees alone!

Lewis Flock

Encinitas

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I am very confused about our governor’s stance on the way to fix the state’s budget shortfall. While it seems obvious to me that an educated workforce will guarantee that California leads the country out of the current economic downturn, the governor is taking the biggest chunk of money out of education. How can that be?

Carol Marshall

Anaheim