Santa Barbara County Faces Backlash Over Proposed Sales Tax Hike

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Santa Barbara County is proposing to raise the local sales tax from 7.75% to 8.75%, citing a need for more revenue. However, Mike Stoker, president and CEO of the Santa Barbara County Taxpayer Advocacy Center, argues that the county does not have a revenue problem, but rather a spending problem. Stoker points out that the county's population has only grown by 10% since 2000, while the county budget has ballooned by over 350%. He says the county has prioritized growing its bureaucracy and personnel costs at a rate far outpacing inflation, and that a sales tax hike would unfairly burden the poor and middle class.

Why it matters

This debate highlights the ongoing tension between local governments seeking more revenue and taxpayer advocates pushing for fiscal responsibility. The proposed sales tax hike could have a significant impact on residents, especially those living paycheck-to-paycheck, at a time when the cost of living in Santa Barbara is already very high.

The details

Stoker argues that Santa Barbara County's budget has grown from $475 million in 2000 to $1.69 billion today, a 355.69% increase, while the population has only grown by 10.43%. He says the county has prioritized growing personnel costs, with the average cost per county employee surging 18% in recent years compared to only 10% inflation. Stoker contends that a sales tax hike would be a regressive form of taxation that disproportionately burdens the poor and middle class.

• Santa Barbara County's population grew from 399,347 in 2000 to 441,000 today.
• The county's budget has grown from $475 million in 2000 to $1.69 billion today.
• The proposed sales tax hike would increase the local rate from 7.75% to 8.75%.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors will vote on whether to move forward with the proposed sales tax hike in the coming weeks.