The tax increases never stop.<\/p>\n
In 2024, Los Angeles County voters approved Measure A, which doubled an expiring 0.25% sales tax.<\/p>\n
In June of this year, Los Angeles County voters decided they needed to be taxed even more and approved Measure ER to raise sales taxes another 0.5% for five years.<\/p>\n
Now, in the city of Los Angeles, the firefighters are asking for yet another 0.5% with Measure FD. The measure would direct the proceeds to the fire department. The measure also includes no sunset date, so it will be a permanent tax unless some brave souls decide to pitch voters a repeal of fire department funding.<\/p>\n
Proponents, most prominently the firefighters union, argue the measure is needed because the city\u2019s fire department is underfunded. \u201cThe LAFD is half the size it should be to serve a population of almost 4 million people,\u201d the campaign website declares. \u201cThe LAFD needs more fire trucks, engines, ambulances, and wildfire brush apparatus. Currently, more than 95% of the reserve fleet is out of service. This Measure will provide the lifesaving vehicles, equipment, and resources needed to keep Los Angeles safe.\u201d<\/p>\n
Representatives of the firefighters union elaborated on these points in a discussion with the editorial board and made a good argument that the city of Los Angeles isn\u2019t doing an adequate job of funding their department. They point to statistics showing the city has lower per capita rates of firefighters compared to some other big cities like San Francisco, Houston, Chicago and Seattle. On the other hand, it\u2019s ahead of cities like San Diego<\/a> and San Jose.<\/p>\n Even so, one can imagine, based on the all-too-real threat of wildfires and the volume of EMS calls related to the homeless population, a legitimate need for the department to have better funding.<\/p>\n