OPINION > AROUND THE WATER COOLER

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION:

Do you agree with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposal to raise the state sales tax by 1 percentage point to close the state's budget deficit?

Yes: 4

No: 6

■ Karen Anderson: No. Time to cut expenses. Retailers need a boost in this economy and raising sales taxes has the opposite effect.

■ Bert Berson: No. It is a Band-Aid on a major revenue problem.

■ Chris Bryant: No, Reduce spending to close the deficit.

■ David Cohen: Yes. It will realistically take a combination of higher taxes and spending cuts to close the budget gap.

■ Julian Mancias: No. In these tough economic times it is very hard to agree with Gov. Schwarzenegger's proposed 1% sales tax increase.

■ Linda McNulty: I absolutely agree, I see no other options, additionally, I would like to see another 1 percent dedicated to the public school system. It's the cost of living in this great country.

■ Lisa Pampuch: No. Sales taxes disproportionately affect the poor and middle class. Instead, reduce fat state employee salaries and pensions, release nonviolent prisoners (it costs $43,000/year to house each prisoner).

■ John Quick: No. It would further depress spending at a time when there is already fear of recession. A return of the DMV tax would be more appropriate and would completely solve the deficit according to many experts.

■ Emily Shem-Tov: I'd rather see a more progressive one proposed, but it does seem necessary to have a tax increase of some sort to get out of this mess.

■ Steve Staloch: Yes, provided it is matched by a 0.5 percent reduction in current state expenditures.

Vote in This week's web poll

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