LAFAYETTE AGREES TO PLACE HALF-CENT SALES TAX ON NOVEMBER BALLOT
On Monday, the Lafayette City Council agreed to place a half-cent sales tax measure with a 7-year sunset and citizens oversight committee on the November ballot.
Facing a $2 million budget deficit, the city and its council had been working on a revenue enhancement and determined a sales tax would be the best option—noting the tax is partially be paid by visitors who dine and shop in Lafayette, not just residents and Lafayette’s current sales tax is lower than Moraga, Orinda, Walnut Creek, Concord and Pleasant Hill
If approved by voters, the half-cent sales tax would generate an estimated $2.4 million annually—thus preventing the city from avoiding cuts for basic services but leave little room to accommodate any other programs.
According to the city, the deficit is due to increased inflation, rising costs for insurance, additional costs for infrastructure maintenance, and more state laws and mandates which increase local government administrative and financial burdens.
https://contracosta.news/2024/07/09/lafayette-agrees-to-place-half-cent-sales-tax-on-november-ballot/