Rather than hike sales tax, fix Prop. 13

By Jules Pizano

Let’s be honest, we’ve all been tired of the rising sales taxes here in California. With this, Oakland leaders are scrambling to figure out a new tax to fund public services.

However, what leaders haven’t considered yet is taxing the ultra-wealthy. Proposition 13, passed back in 1978, froze property tax rates for homeowners and corporations. While this is a good thing for homeowners, major corporations have been pocketing billions of dollars every year because they are simply not paying their fair share in property taxes.

If we want to have stable revenue in this state and not pay soaring taxes on everything, we must reform the commercial side of Proposition 13.