Don’t Be Fooled: Prop 13 2.0 in November 2024
After the passage of Proposition 13 in 1978, our California state budget and tax structure have never been the same. One of the most devastating consequences of Prop 13 is drastically reduced revenues for localities and schools. For the past 46 years, Prop 13 has undermined the ability to fund our schools and public services, while favoring the wealthiest commercial property owners. Now, the original right-wing authors of Prop 13, the California Business Roundtable and Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, are back at it with a new misleading initiative—the so-called Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act. This measure will further restrict tax increases and make it virtually impossible for our communities to raise any money for our schools and public services.
These right-wing extremists are trying to deceive Californians once again into buying into their “anti-tax uprising” with campaign slogans that allude to California having the “highest income tax, state sales tax, gas taxes, and poverty rate.” However, what these extremists fail to mention is the fact that Prop 13 gave tax breaks to large corporations, whose property revenues were once a stable source for local governments. After Prop 13, California witnessed a historic budget deficit and had to cut other state services and subsequently pull revenue through income and sales taxes for school and community needs. Prop 13 only hurted our communities, while the top benefitted.
Proposition 13 is the culprit of California's fiscal challenges. Californians should not be deceived once again and be tricked into believing that this measure is the solution to rising taxes. These extremists are attempting to exploit discontent with taxes, using deceptive slogans and blaming government officials for higher taxes. We saw what happened in 1978. We cannot allow for our public services and schools to be in the hands of greedy real estate corporations and businessmen again. While we cannot outspend their efforts to buy our elections, we will always have PEOPLE POWER!
Column: Taxpayer ‘protection’ or taxpayer ‘deception’? A new ballot measure aims to destroy state and local budgets
BY MICHAEL HILTZIK from LA Times