Your guide to Measure A: Sales tax to fund homelessness programs

[RandySF]

In 2017, Los Angeles County voters approved Measure H, a quarter-cent sales tax to fund homeless services. If not renewed, the tax will expire in 2027.

A coalition of large nonprofits, homeless service providers and labor unions is now backing a measure that would replace Measure H two years before it expires and raise the tax rate to a half cent per dollar. The tax would remain in effect indefinitely unless repealed by voters.

Because Measure A qualified for the ballot by citizen initiative, it is exempt from the two-thirds majority required of government-initiated taxes. It requires a simple majority for passage.

The measure specifies that 60% of the proceeds would go to the county for homeless services. Of that, at least 15% would be allocated to cities, councils of government and unincorporated areas based on the annual point-in-time homeless count conducted by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority. At least 1.65% would go to an innovation fund to test new ideas for future, larger-scale programs.




https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-10-03/2024-california-election-measure-a-homeless-sales-tax-voter-guide

[beaglelover]

1. Where does the other 40% go? If I still lived there, I'd be a definite NO vote on this.

[quaint]

2. What has happened to all the monies different cities and counties have voted for?

I would willingly pay more to house unsheltered if we hadn't, apparently wasted taxpayer money with one unsuccessful attempt after another. Most want shelter, but we need to respect the needs of those who cannot live inside for their own reasons.