Higher sales tax will begin April 1 in several nearby cities where many Hill residents shop.

Hemet, Indio, La Quinta, Menifee, Riverside and Temecula will begin applying an 8.75-percent sales tax this weekend, 1 percent more than the current 7.75 percent charge.

This is not a Riverside Countywide sales tax increase. It applies only to purchases within the municipalities’ jurisdictions.

The tax-rate increases were approved by means of voter initiatives.

JP Crumrine can be reached at [email protected]