Gavin Newsom saddled Californians with $14B in new taxes in final years as governor: report

Gov.Gavin Newsom loves to rattle off statistics — but he may not like a whopping new figure being tagged to him and California Democrats ahead of his likely presidential campaign.Democratic lawmakers and Newsom have approved measures during the last two-year legislative session that will raise taxes and fees by an estimated $14.3 billion annually, according to a new California Tax Foundation report.The increases come as Californians already pay the nation’s highest gasoline taxes, highest statewide base sales tax rate and highest top personal income tax rate.“When the new taxes and fees approved this session are fully implemented, Californians will be paying $14.3 billion more to their state and local governments, on top of any additional taxes approved in the November election,” California Tax Foundation research analyst Caitlin Herring said in a statement.  The biggest news, opinion and culture shaping California right now.

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Never miss a story “These new expenses will increase the cost of living in this state just as a new governor takes office and begins grappling with California’s ongoing affordability problem.”A back-of-the-envelope calculation would suggest the taxes would be a roughly $1,000 annual increase per California household, but the tax foundation cautioned that most of the taxes target specific taxpayers and businesses.The foundation’s analysis identified 156 proposals to increase taxes or fees during the 2025-26 session.Of those, 67 passed the Legislature and were signed into law by Newsom.

The approved increases represent a fraction of the more than $803 billion in proposals lawmakers considered, according to the report. Newsom’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.Earlier this month, the California Medical Association and the California Association of ...