Several Counties in Greater Los Angeles Area Move to Increase Sales Tax by One-Half Cent

Shipping container trucks sit in traffic at the busiest seaport complex in the nation in Long Beach, Calif., on Nov. 29, 2012. Photo by David McNew/Getty Images

Sales tax in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Orange Counties could rise by half a cent if a proposed ballot measure passes in 2020, pushing the area’s sales tax close to the state limit of 10.25%.

The measure, which is still in its very early stages, was proposed by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD). The measure is estimated to raise about $1.4 billion annually to fund programs aimed at reducing air pollution.