Hello, party people. Here are the stories you shouldn’t miss:
1. A controversial proposal to give local governments the authority to tax their residents is being tabled til 2012, according to the LA Times. Interestingly enough, this comes just as a new poll indicates Californians would be amenable to voter-approved local taxes on stuff like cigarettes, liquor, and soda.
2. In order to bridge a monumental budget gap — and facing a tax-averse political climate — the state of California is increasingly turning to fee increases, reporteth the Sacramento Bee in a fascinating story from Sunday’s paper. That means a 20 percent hike in student fees in the UC and CSU systems, double-digit increases for state park users, and major spikes in vehicle registration fees; plus the introduction of new fees like a $150 “fire charge” for rural homes. Yikes.