The weather's great, but.....

The weather is great here in southern California, but.....

Already one of the most heavily, if not the MOST heavily taxed states in the union, in California on Monday the gasoline tax goes up 10%.  By the way, a gallon of regular was $3.95 on 7 June and is $4.08 today, per reports on averages, more than a 3% increase.  Actually, in my neighborhood, it is over $4.25 per gallon.  Guess I shouldn't complain, because we've previously experienced 20 cent over night increases and 45 cent increases in one week.   The 10% increase in the gasoline tax joins the 3.3% increase in the sales tax enacted via Prop 30, so the state sales tax is 7.5%, though that isn't the full sales tax.  In our city, a tax of 8.5% is what we pay.  And the state increased the personal income tax as well.  These sunshine taxes are getting expensive.

On Monday we received notice from the local gas and electric company that our rates are going up between 15% -37.5%.  Oh joy.  And to rub our noses in it, we're expecting a heat wave.

Damn, but the weather is great.  Too bad our spare money used for enjoying it is all going to Brown's new taxes.

Thank you Mr. Brown and Mr. Obama.

Think I'll go sit on the patio and drink a glass of water.  (Damn, that's right, water prices are going up too.)