Size of proposed increase in real estate sales tax is staggering

Re “Another sales tax vote? Unions, nonprofits team up to get countywide half-cent hike on 2026 ballot” (Dec. 24): While reading this article, I had to do a double take on this sentence: “According to a draft contract in the request for proposals from lobbyists, the county wants the state to let it raise taxes on real estate sales from 55 cents for every $500 in value to $30.55 for every $500.”

I thought it must be a typo. The proposal is to raise the tax on a $750,000 sale from about $800 to almost $46,000? On what planet would a nearly 5,500% increase in sales tax make sense?

Further, these ballot measures brought on by public employee unions should have to pass by the same margins as if brought on by a supervisor. They reek of conflict of interest and clearly the sponsors have self-interests that are in no way related to the supposed use for the revenues. It’s a shell game to get more money for programs so money is freed up for union raises.

— Steve Schneider, Tierrasanta