KMPH Fox 26 Central San Joaquin Valley News Source in Fresno, California Entertainment, News, Sports and Weather | Sales Tax Increase Kicks off Across California

Sales Tax Increase Kicks off Across California

By: Ashley Ritchie and Kyra Jenkins

If you bought basically anything on Wednesday, you may have noticed a slight to significant increase in the price. That's because April 1st marks the beginning of a 1% sales tax hike across California.

At Fashion Furniture in Fresno, the daily meeting included a little more than just a pep talk.

"I mentioned it in the morning meeting with the sales staff to remind them that we've got to charge more now for the tax," said Sales Manager Ted Cook.

It's a meeting every store across the state is probably having.

As of Wednesday, Californians will pay 1% more for everything from clothes, cars, even furniture.

Throughout the Valley, Merced's sales tax increased to 8.75%, in Fresno and Clovis it's now 8.975% and Visalia tops the list at 9%.

"Honestly, I don't think it's going to have a dramatic affect. Very few customers have talked about it at all," Cook said.

At Fashion Fair Mall, few customers even knew about it.

"I didn't know about it until they told me the price was different with the sales tax. And I didn't notice," Erika Corrello said.

"I didn't know about it," Jose Maldnado said.

Just recently Maldnado spent $400 on an I-phone and Wednesday spent another $32 on a cover, which would've been cheaper on Tuesday.

"It's like $2 more, I could buy a soda I guess," he said.

Back at Fashion Furniture, the extra tax means working extra hard for the customer.

"It forces you to really be on your toes when we make our purchase, so we know we're still presenting the best value in our market to the consumer," Cook said.

It's a value shoppers need now more than ever.

The new rate is expected to bring in nearly $6 billion before it expires on July 1st, 2011.

But the tax could be extended another year if voters approve a ballot measure during a special election on May 19th.