The Tax Man Cometh - NEW

So...Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D), ironically from Sacramento, has his eye on passing legislation that will "authorizes counties, county offices of education and community college districts to impose or increase a local personal income tax, vehicle license fee, and transactions, use and excise taxes."

Yes, that's right, they want to give counties the ability to increase your taxes to make up for the cuts the State will have to make if the tax extension bill doesn't pass.

On what items might a county increase/impose a tax, you ask? Everything from, but NOT LIMITED TO, a tax of five cents for each FIVE (5) ounces of alcoholic beverages, cigarette taxes of up to a dollar per pack, a penny PER OUNCE soda tax and a tax on medical marijuana.

The language does not specify what cannot be taxed, that's left wide open, as will your wallet if this passes.

Essentially, the State isn't make cuts where necessary and where they make sense, and the majority party's position is either continue with the tax extension or we'll just force counties to raise taxes.

All of this at a time when the unemployment rate in Riverside County is 15.1%