America’s most expensive rental market could soon become even more pricey after officials voted to ask residents to approve a countywide sales tax increase amid a looming fiscal crisis. Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors agreed Tuesday to place a temporary half-cent sales tax measure before voters on the Nov. 3 ballot while declaring a state of financial distress, the Santa Cruz Sentinel reported. Under the proposal, the sales tax would rise from 9.75% to 10.25% in Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley and Watsonville. 4 Santa Cruz Supervisor Manu Koenig (second left) agreed to place a half-cent sales tax measure before voters. 4 The proposal comes just days after Santa Cruz was identified as the most expensive rental market in the US.