Name: Why California Cities Are Turning to New Fees | John Moorlach
Uploaded: 2026-07-23T00:05:02.000Z
Description: Parking that was once free now comes with a meter. Trash pickup costs more, and local ballots continue to carry proposals for new taxes and fees. Across California, people are being asked to pay more as cities, counties, and school districts face pressure to maintain the services residents use every day. Each charge can look like a separate local decision.

Siyamak Khorrami has been the general manager and chief editor of the Southern California edition of The Epoch Times since 2017. He is also the host of the “California Insider” show, which showcases leaders and professionals across the state with inside information about trending topics and critical issues in California.

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California, as the wealthiest and most populated state in the nation, carries many leading roles in policy making, economic growth, cultural influences and technology development. California Insider, hosted by Siyamak Khorrami with The Epoch Times Southern California, showcases leaders and professionals across the state with inside information about trending topics and critical issues. Our mission is to inform California residents through the experiences and knowledge of our guests. 

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Why California Cities Are Turning to New Fees | John Moorlach

Why Expanding Into California Isn’t So Simple | Laine Schoneberger

Is Owning a Home in California Still Possible? | Louis DiGonzini

Inside California’s $20 Billion Water Tunnel Decision | Graham Bradner

A Farming Takeover Happened in California; Most Residents Never Noticed | Tom Coleman & Stephen Vasquez

This California Winemaker Says Forced Membership Fees Could Reach Any Industry | Kate Griffith

Could California’s Wealth Tax Reach Beyond Billionaires? | Josh Rauh

The CCP Is Targeting an American Performing Arts Company | Steve Lance

Why California Election Results Keep Shifting After Election Night | Mike Gatto

California’s Fastest-Growing Homeless Population Is Its Seniors; What’s Really Happening? | Rishi Kumar

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Parking that was once free now comes with a meter. Trash pickup costs more, and local ballots continue to carry proposals for new taxes and fees. Across California, people are being asked to pay more as cities, counties, and school districts face pressure to maintain the services residents use every day. Each charge can look like a separate local decision.

The financial reports behind them tell a broader story, and the same pressures do not leave every community in the same position.

John Moorlach, senior fellow and director of the Center for Public Accountability at the California Policy Center, is a CPA and former state senator who warned about Orange County’s bankruptcy before it occurred. He joins us to explain how he compares the finances of California’s state and local governments, and what those rankings may show about the condition of a resident’s own community.

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