(LibertySociety.com) – Los Angeles County voters have approved Measure A, a ballot initiative aimed at tackling homelessness by increasing the sales tax by half a percent. Passing with 57% support, the measure will replace the existing quarter-cent tax introduced by Measure H in 2017, which was initially set to expire in 2027. Instead, the new tax will start immediately and, importantly, will remain in effect indefinitely unless voters decide to repeal it.
The measure is expected to generate an estimated $1 billion annually, a substantial increase in funds dedicated to addressing the county’s pressing homelessness crisis. According to the structure of Measure A, the bulk of the funds—61%—will be directed toward critical homeless services, including mental health and addiction treatment. Another 35.5% is earmarked for affordable housing initiatives through the Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency, while approximately 3% will go to the county’s development authority to aid in housing production.
Officials have emphasized that this time, spending will be carefully monitored to ensure the funds are used effectively. The measure includes spending formulas that outline how the revenue should be allocated, aiming to balance immediate relief for homeless individuals with long-term affordable housing solutions.
The vote to pass Measure A was not without skepticism, as Measure H’s quarter-cent sales tax in 2017 fell short of achieving significant reductions in homelessness. Since then, the crisis has only intensified, with visible encampments and housing shortages marking many areas of the city. Critics argue that by increasing funding without addressing deeper systemic issues, such measures could inadvertently exacerbate the problem by drawing more people in need to services in Los Angeles, rather than curbing the rise in homelessness.
Supporters of Measure A, however, contend that the scale of funding it provides could help the county implement more comprehensive solutions and possibly move the needle on the entrenched problem. They see it as a necessary investment in the county’s infrastructure to address both the immediate needs and the long-term housing shortage.
Whether Measure A will succeed in making a meaningful impact remains to be seen, but with a stable, substantial source of funding now guaranteed, officials and residents alike will be watching closely to see if it can finally make a difference in Los Angeles County’s homelessness crisis.
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