New Sales Tax Rates for Sonoma County Cities, Unincorporated Area

The County of Sonoma has released the following sales and use tax rates that will go into effect for shoppers in the county on Tuesday, Jan. 1. All previous sales and use tax rates will increase by 0.25 percent on that day.

The 2013 rates will range from 8.25 percent to 8.75 percent. The cities of Sonoma, Healdsburg, Rohnert Park, Cotati and Santa Rosa will have the highest rate. Sebastopol will have 8.5 percent sales tax and all other areas will be at 8.25 percent. See the attached PDF table for the rate for each area.

The increased sales tax will not affect gasoline sales, which will remain the same, according to the County, but it will affect diesel fuel sales. Diesel sales tax will increase to 10.42 percent which includes all applicable district rates.

Governor Gerry Brown's Proposition 30, approved by California voters in November is the basis for the hike. It is expected to raise $6 billion per year for the state's schools. The increased sales and use tax will be in effect for four years. The measure also retroactively increased income tax for people who earn more than $250,000 per year. That part of the measure will be in effect for seven years.

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