Sacramento Leaders Considering Sales Tax Initiative

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - First it was the state, and now it's the city of Sacramento considering adding a sales tax increase to make up for sagging revenues.

The city has released a survey it says shows support for the idea.

From a quarter-cent to a half-cent, you might think it makes no sense.

"It's already high," one resident complained on Tuesday.

Sacramento's mayor says it's not a great idea, but other council members say it may be the way to go.

A half-cent sales tax would eliminate the city's current $15.7 million debt by raising $26 million each year

But another tax when the state is already asking us to pony up?

"I think we pay enough in tax," one citizen said.

That is why you might be surprised at this city-issued survey asking 800 voters if they'd support a sales tax increase.

For a quarter-cent sales tax increase, 71 percent said yes, and 68 percent said they'd support a half-cent increase.

"Was i surprised? A little bit given what's going on at the state level," Councilmember Darrell Fong said.

Fong says he'd consider supporting a general sales tax increase but says he needs to talk with more voters.

If he talked with the ones CBS13 ran into Tuesday night, he might not be so sure about that survey.

"I would probably not be in favor of paying more," one said.

"I think they ought to cut the budget and not raise our taxes any more," another said. "I think they're high enough."

But with the city's coffers hardly full, some feel it's an option worth looking into:
"I think people in the city know we're pretty much cut to the bare bone," Fong said.

If the council wants to get this on the november ballot, it will have to take action by July 24.