Taxes, taxes and more taxes — when will it end?

In addition to the actions taken by our federal officials that have resulted in the highest cost-of-living increase in memory, our local elected officials have decided to play the same game. Following is a list of those actions that, if approved, are set to take effect this year, and note that none of us are exempt:

1). Bay Area Transit/AB63 — 0.5% sales tax, 1% in San Francisco, on the November 2026 ballot in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, Santa Clara and San Francisco;

2). San Mateo — 0.25% sales tax;

3). Foster City, Business license tax;

4). Redwood City School District, parcel tax;

5). San Carlos, 0.5% sales tax;

6). San Carlos School District, parcel tax; and

7). San Mateo County, 0.5% sales tax

Bottom line, if all of the above become law, we living here in San Mateo County will see our sales tax rate rise above 10%.

Ladies and gentlemen, although some of us can weather the coming storm, this is a heavy burden for our seniors, renters, working families, retirees and small businesses, who are struggling today to make ends meet.

For me, it raises the question: What spending reductions, operating efficiencies and accountability reforms have been explored and/or implemented? Many of us, including your truly, are on a fixed income. I suggest we all contact our elected officials and ask them what steps they have taken to reduce and or minimize expenses.

Jim Lawrence

Foster City

The letter writer is the former mayor of Foster City.