Orange County voters say ‘yes’ to waste and higher local taxes

In last Tuesday’s election, Orange County voters were asked to decide on an unusually large number of school-bond and tax-raising measures. As pandemic relief funds have dried up, free-spending cities and school districts have faced budget crunches. Instead of paring back spending, they have instead complained about the economy and asked voters to raise taxes.

Bonds can sometimes be justified for long-delayed capital investments, but school districts have a habit of burning through cash and then borrowing more money for extravagant projects. Sales tax hikes are rarely justified, especially as local tax rates soar into obscene territory. Government should live within its means. This Editorial Board argued: When in doubt, just vote “no.”

Sadly, the county’s voters, who once were known for their fiscal conservatism, mostly voted “yes” on tax hikes. Bond measures for the Brea Olinda, Santa Ana and Tustin unified school districts; Anaheim Union and Fullerton high-school districts; Buena Park and La Habra school districts; Fullerton elementary district and Lowell Joint School District had well beyond 55-percent majorities needed to pass. Only the Rancho Santiago Community College District bond was falling short.

Unlike state bonds, local bonds raise property taxes. New sales taxes are arguably worse than bonds, which at least invest in infrastructure. The news was better on that front. Orange’s proposed sales-tax hike is behind, as is Mission Viejo’s transit-occupancy tax. The San Clemente tax measure had 64 percent support, but is still shy of the two-thirds supermajority needed. Buena Park voters have, however, overwhelmingly approved its sales-tax hike. Same story in La Habra. Plus voters in March boosted taxes in Westminster.

Voters also approved plenty of inexplicable measures. Santa Ana’s rent-control ordinance is well ahead. It will obliterate the city’s already struggling rental market. Also well ahead is a measure that will allow non-citizens to vote in municipal elections, something that will likely lead to costly litigation. Well, H.L. Mencken’s quotation is as relevant as ever: “Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard.”