LA ELECTION 2013 - The half-cent sales tax increase proposal on the March 5 ballot known as Proposition A has been around for a long time in many guises, sometimes as a county tax, sometimes a city tax.
Threats and reasons offered by Los Angeles city officials have included, in essence, pass it or risk another riot; pass it or risk a terrorist attack; pass it to fight a (nonexistent) surge in crime; pass it to fund a new gang-prevention department.
The only time it actually came before voters, they rejected it. In other instances, county and city officials refused to put it on the ballot in the first place.
There have been temporary statewide increases in the sales tax, and Los Angeles voters have willingly taxed themselves for transportation improvements and environmental cleanup.
One interpretation (mine) is that voters just don't believe the pitches.
(Read the rest … including the failed history of sales tax … here.)