Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
How Much Will Measure M Cost You, Exactly?
Metro rolls through downtown (Photo by Calvin Fleming via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr)
()
There's been a great deal of fanfare surrounding Measure M, the ballot measure put forth by Metro to spark off a number of transportation projects (like a westward extension of the Purple Line, and a tunnel through the Sepulveda Pass). If passed by a two-thirds majority in November, the measure will raise the sales-tax by a half cent, as well as extending another half-cent sales tax increase—Measure R, which was passed in 2008. Metro expects the measure to generate about $120 billion in tax revenue over forty years.
That's all fine and good. But what does it really mean? Like, how would the tax increase affect our wallets in real terms? According to Metro, it would mean that each person in the L.A. County will be paying an extra $25 per year, reports KPCC.
KPCC spoke with an economist who said that, duh, all you'd have to do to get that figure is total up the "sales tax receipts and [divide] them by the number of households." He said that the math checks out with him.
We'd like to note that $25 is about the same amount you'd pay per month for your cable package (granted you refrained from adding some sort of sports package with 100 extra ESPN channels).
Support for LAist comes from
The tax increase (both the half-cent bump, as well as the prolonging of Measure R) will remain in place indefinitely until voters decide to vote against it. Overall, the increase will boost the county's sales tax rate to 9.25%.
While the amount sounds fairly modest, it perhaps will not be enough to sway some of the opposition. As noted at the L.A. Times, support for the measure has been strong in central L.A. and the Westside areas, but some voters in the South Bay area, where about one-third of likely voters live, are skeptical. These skeptics feel that Metro's proposed plans won't benefit the Southern neighborhoods enough. Voters in Torrance, Signal Hill and Carson believe that there isn't enough money allocated for local projects like street repairs. Others are unhappy that the proposed Green Line extension, which will add 4.7 miles to stretch the line to Torrance, won't break ground for a decade.
The Times also notes that, four years ago, a former Metro ballot measure to expand mass transit had lost by less than one percentage point. However, in a series of polls conducted in May by Metro, 63 to 79% of responders said that they'd vote yes on the measure.
Editor's note: An earlier version of this story, citing a report by KPCC, said that the measure would cost $25 per household in the L.A. County. We, as well as KPCC, have have corrected this article to say that it should cost $25 per person.
Related: Animated Map: Here's What Metro Wants To Do If Measure M Passes
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance. -
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity.
-
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
Best of LAist