Blue City Residents Could End Up Shelling Out Even More Tax Dollars Toward Homelessness

Los Angeles residents could end up shelling out even more tax dollars towards the city’s homeless crisis, adding to the billions already spent in an effort to tackle the issue.

Voters will decide whether to enact Measure A in November, which imposes a .5% county-level sales tax to help fund homelessness programs. Another initiative, known as Measure H, passed in 2017 with the sales tax at .25% for 10 years and would be repealed if Measure A passes.

Measure A’s proponents argue that letting Measure H expire in 2027 without a replacement would be disastrous for the 75,000 homeless people in Los Angeles County, according to Politico.

“We need everyone in Los Angeles County to understand that if Measure A does not pass, critical funding for homeless shelter services and housing will be lost,” Democratic Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said at a press conference Monday, according to Politico. “We cannot afford to go backward.”

Polling shows 49% of likely voters support Measure A, 33% are planning to vote no and 17% being undecided, according to a UC Berkeley poll conducted Sept. 25 to Oct.1. Currently, there is no organized opposition to the measure, according to Politico.

Mark DiCamillo, director of the Berkeley poll,