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so i've seen various editorialists pontificate that one of the problems with gas prices in California is that our gas taxes are so high.
well, a report was issued by the tax consulting firm CCH this week that details the gas taxes charged in all 50 states. Guess what? We aren't even in the top half as far as gas taxes go. 33 states and the District of Columbia charge higher gas taxes than California does (Washington State being the champ at 34 cents/gallon). Five states charge the same as we do, leaving only 11 states that charge less per gallon than California. And you'd be surprised at some of the ones that charge more - Texas and Louisiana (both big oil states) charge more than we do, for instance.
Another thing people complain about is "sin taxes" like the taxes on booze and cigarettes. well, we're higher up on that list but still not in the top 50%.
Where we *are* on the high end of things is with the state sales tax at 6.25%. There's only 6 states with a higher base rate than that. (Of course, sales taxes also vary by locale - the County of Santa Cruz sticks another 1.75% on top of the base rate, and then the City of Santa Cruz has another .25% on top of that for a total tax rate of 8.25% for purchases in the city - unless you're staying in a hotel in which case you also get to pay the 10% "transient occupancy tax"... and they wonder why no one wants to build new hotels in Santa Cruz)
so... there you go.
well, a report was issued by the tax consulting firm CCH this week that details the gas taxes charged in all 50 states. Guess what? We aren't even in the top half as far as gas taxes go. 33 states and the District of Columbia charge higher gas taxes than California does (Washington State being the champ at 34 cents/gallon). Five states charge the same as we do, leaving only 11 states that charge less per gallon than California. And you'd be surprised at some of the ones that charge more - Texas and Louisiana (both big oil states) charge more than we do, for instance.
Another thing people complain about is "sin taxes" like the taxes on booze and cigarettes. well, we're higher up on that list but still not in the top 50%.
Where we *are* on the high end of things is with the state sales tax at 6.25%. There's only 6 states with a higher base rate than that. (Of course, sales taxes also vary by locale - the County of Santa Cruz sticks another 1.75% on top of the base rate, and then the City of Santa Cruz has another .25% on top of that for a total tax rate of 8.25% for purchases in the city - unless you're staying in a hotel in which case you also get to pay the 10% "transient occupancy tax"... and they wonder why no one wants to build new hotels in Santa Cruz)
so... there you go.
