Liberal Voters Support Higher Taxes to Fight Homelessness

Los Angeles County voters passed Measure A, increasing sales tax by 0.25% for homelessness services, securing 57% support despite initial pushback.

Measure A replaced a quarter-cent tax with a 0.5% tax, effective immediately and expected to raise $1 billion annually without an expiration.

The funds will be managed by the county, allocating 61% to homeless services, 35.5% to affordable housing via the Affordable Housing Solutions Agency, and about 3% for housing development.

Voter skepticism stemmed from Measure H, a 2017 tax increase, which failed to curb rising homelessness and possibly worsened it by expanding funding for services that failed to deliver.

Proposition 47, originally backed by George Gascón and Kamala Harris, faced its end as voters opted for Prop. 36, which will increase penalties for certain crimes.

Prop. 47 had reduced penalties for theft under $950 and reclassified felonies as misdemeanors unless offenders had serious prior convictions. The proposition had a detrimental impact on retail crime.