Will Another Sales Tax Increase Really Help This Southern California City?

Commentary The city of Westminster is pursuing the easy road to address its continuing fiscal mismanagement, again. It’s asking its residents to approve yet another sales tax increase, the second in the last two years. It’s much easier to tell those voting in Westminster that there will be more potholes and less public safety if they don’t approve the small upward adjustment to their nonfood purchases. It eliminates the need of its City Council from actually pursuing tough fiscal decisions. Of Orange County’s 34 cities, 24 of them charge the rate of 7.75 percent for sales tax. The cities of Los Alamitos and Santa Ana charge the maximum rate of 9.25 percent. Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, La Palma, Placentia, Seal Beach, Stanton, and Westminster charge 8.75 percent. And La Habra residents pay 8.25 percent within their city....