LA voters pass another tax that’ll impact almost all shopping trips
How Measure ER will impact almost all shopping trips in LA County
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Skip to main content MetroLA voters pass another tax that’ll impact almost all shopping trips
By Titus Wu and Benjamin Brown Published June 28, 2026, 10:51 p.m. ETSee more of our coverage in your search results.
Add The California Post on GoogleLos Angeles County has voted to jack up the prices they pay for everyday items by approving a sales-tax increase — in a move critics say will backfire by sending residents across county lines for shopping trips.
Measure ER, which passed by more than 25,000 votes, is set to increase sales taxes by half a cent to raise $1 billion annually for hospitals, local health departments and low-income residents needing insurance.
The Los Angeles County Registrar’s Office certified the June 2 primary results on Friday, with the LA County Board of Supervisors scheduled to declare the election officially over during its meeting on Tuesday.
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The tax hike — which raises the current 9.75% rate to 10.25% — increases prices on items ranging from furniture and electronics at a time when LA residents are already drowning in rising costs — as inflation on gas and groceries have drained people’s wallets.
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California already has the highest sales tax in the nation, and with county and local taxes included, consumers will pay close to 12% sales tax in some areas of Los Angeles that have adopted higher municipal taxes.
“People are going to travel across county lines to purchase items, when you’re sitting at 12% sales tax up in Lancaster, 11.75% up in Lancaster and Palmdale … you’re going to jump across the border to Orange County and buy and save 3%,” said Aidan Chao of the Los Angeles County Taxpayers Association.
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Angelenos buying a $40,000 car, for example, would pay $200 in additional tax under Measure ER. A $3,000 living room set would come with a $20 additional tee and a $1,000 iPhone would cost more than $5 extra.
It adds up — especially for working people crushed by sky-high home and gas prices, Chao added.
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“While you may say ‘a few dollars here and there is not much,’ sometimes a few dollars is a lot to those who are living paycheck to paycheck and need those few dollars to pay their rent,” Chao added. “It seems like a lot when people can’t even pay for their gas.”
Measure ER, backed by nonprofit St. John’s Community Health and Service Employees International Union, was advertised as “half a penny to save lives” to make up for President Donald Trump’s federal funding cuts and endorsed by labor and progressive groups.
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The tax does goes into effect on October 1, 2026 and is set to expire in 2031.
Advocates say funds will pay for health care services, but in practice, revenues will simply go into LA county’s general fund for local electeds to allocate as they see fit.
“We spend so much money in taxes, we contribute so much and look around here,” said Kris Cuyvers, who voted against the tax.
He said he would “absolutely” leave the county to buy certain items if it meant significant savings.
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“We believed, we were taught to keep increasing taxes, it’s going to help — we see it’s not helping,” added Warren Johnson, who also voted against the tax.
Tax advocates said they felt it was important to pay their fair share to help the community. But even supporters of the tax agreed that money needs to be spent wisely.
“I think we need to figure out a way to make sure it’s being spent responsibly and then people would be more willing to give more,” said Chris Maese, who voted for Measure ER.
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Adam Michel, director of tax policy studies at the Cato Institute, called tax hikes a “disease” afflicting liberal cities.
Voters may approve tax hikes with good intentions but they simply paper over bad governance, according to Michel.
“It’s sort of easily sold as just a little bit more of other people’s money will solve all of our problems,” he said.
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Some locals could face sticker shock when the tax goes into effect and make them hesitant to buy those big-ticket items.
“Anytime the tax rate goes up, it does impact taxpayers’ behavior… and when people see a two digit number like that, that definitely starts making them think twice about purchases,” added David Kline, president of California Taxpayers Association.
“The county said it’s going to generate $1 billion a year in new revenue, which means that is a $1 billion a year new cost for taxpayers,” he said.
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
