After Brief Windfall, CA Sales Taxes Plunge 27 Percent

Whoops

In January, California state tax collection beat Gov. Jerry Brown's 2013-14 budget projections by $4.3 billion, or 39.1 percent.  The out-performance was due to two expected one-time events that took place: $1 billion in delayed sales tax deposits and $3.3 billion of taxes on capital gains, dividends and bonuses collected in January for a prior period.

But something should be very disturbing to giddy state politicians and lobbyists who are cranking up for a new spending spree: January sales taxes plunged by $582.7 million, or 27 percent.  It seems that Taxifornia finally raised taxes so high that affluent residents are moving their investments and spending elsewhere.