Bay Area Spends More, Gets Less From California
Four Bay Area counties top the list of biggest per-capita tax contributions in California.
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Governor Schwarzenegger has vetoed the last two budgets passed by Democratic lawmakers.
The largely Democratic Bay Area pays far more taxes into state coffers than they receive in state spending.
The San Francisco Chronicle found that on average residents of rural Modoc county contribute $768 to the state for every $2,216 they receive in services, while Marin residents contribute $4,793 and only see $606.
Marin, San Mateo, San Francisco and Santa Clara counties were ranked in that order as the top counties in per-capita taxpayer contributions to the state.
Inland counties like Modoc, Tulare and Fresno are Republican strongholds, and even though their residents stand to lose when state spending is cut, that's exactly what GOP officials in Sacramento have demanded.
Representatives from both parties have been meeting with the governor behind closed doors. A vote could come as early as next week, and will likely include spending caps and other concessions demanded by the state GOP.
California's budget mess has led problems like delayed income tax returns and mandatory state employee furloughs -- meaning services like the Department of Motor Vehicles were closed today.
"I think it draws into question if certain elected officials are acting in the best interest of their communities," California Budget Project director Jean Ross told the Chronicle.
Actually, I'd say they're doing quite well -- after all, those rural districts are clearly getting more bang for their tax buck than we are.
Jackson West is a freelance writer who is happy for another excuse to put off a trip to the DMV.
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