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LA County’s half-cent sales tax officially heads to November ballot, to help with housing services
The women's shelter at Proyecto Pastoral serves 15 women over the age of 55.
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Topline:
Los Angeles County voters will officially decide if they should pay a higher sales tax to go toward homelessness services in the upcoming election after county officials voted to move forward with the procedural process on Tuesday.
Why now: The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors decided to send the ordinance to the ballot without any changes in a 4-0 vote, with Supervisor Janice Hahn absent for the meeting.
Why it matters: The initiative, known as the “Homelessness Services and Affordable Housing Transactions and Use Tax Ordinance,” would replace Measure H money, which is set to expire in 2027, to fund both housing and homelessness services, according to Supervisor Lindsey Horvath.
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What the supervisors say: Supervisor Hilda Solis said the board is demonstrating its commitment to solving the homelessness crisis by submitting the ordinance to voters.
“This new ballot initiative will bring more funding to help us grow and improve our homeless response, with more community partners at the table to make the best decisions on how to serve the unhoused neighbors,” Solis said.
What critics and supporters say: Supporters say it would generate more than $1 billion in funding each year, while opponents argue it would burden low-income families. They also point out Measure H didn't deliver what was promised in the first place.
The backstory: The L.A. County registrar confirmed that the measure qualified for the ballot last week, with a proponent petition submitting 393,293 signatures in May, which is more than 100,000 signatures over what's required.
What's next: Voters in L.A. County will get to cast their ballots on the half-cent sales tax measure on Nov. 5.
Go deeper: Learn more about how we got here.
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