Amador County - Sales and use taxes throughout California will increase in range from 8.25 percent to 10.25 percent, according to information from the California State Board of Equalization. The statewide 1 percent sales and use tax increase is effective April 1st and a provision of the newly signed budget agreement. In addition, there are also a number of local measures designed to provide revenue for local causes. In Amador County, Measure M, or the half percent sales tax increase to support Amador Fire Protection and emergency response, passed on the November Ballot 69.30 percent over 30.70 percent. Amador County sales tax will see an increase of .50 percent, up to 8.75 percent. It is estimated that the 1 percent statewide sales tax increase will generate $1.187 billion in new General Fund revenues for the remainder of the 2008-09 fiscal year, and approximately $4.632 billion in 2009-10. Information offered to retailers by the Board of Equalization specifies how the taxes should be collected and remitted. The state and local sales and use tax rate will break down to 8.25 percent for the state and 1 percent for local purposes. The largest increase in the State comes in Pico Rivera, a city with a population of 63,000 located in southeastern Los Angeles County. City officials there have raised fees for public services 1 percent to total 10.25 percent in hopes of collecting another $650,000 for Pico Rivera's coffers. The Board of Equalization is mailing a special Notice, Sales and Use Tax Rate Increases on April 1st to nearly 850,000 California retailers and out of state businesses with transactions in California. The five-member California State Board of Equalization is collects more than $53 billion annually in taxes and fees supporting state and local government services. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.