Is Proposition 13 in peril? Its enemies are looking at 2020 to mount a campaign to pare away protection from high taxes for commercial property owners by assessing their property at current market rates. Backers filed their proposed initiative with the state Friday.
Jon Coupal, President of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, says there are two good reasons not to change Prop 13.
“We’re sitting on a 17 billion dollar surplus. Why are we even talking about tax increases? And secondly, California is not a low-property tax state. Even with Prop 13, we rank about 17th of all states in per capita property tax.”
He says Prop 13 will survive, but only if voters understand what’s at stake.
“Prop 13 continues to be popular. But we have to keep at it – keep working at educating California voters, and future homeowners. Millennials at some point – they can’t afford rent right now – but polling indicates they want eventually to own their own place. And that’s where we need to connect with them to say, ‘You don’t want to be taxed out of your homes, like your parents and grandparents were.’ ”
Backers of the change say the state needs the additional funds to support public education.
Jon Coupal was a guest on McIntyre in the Morning.
By Sandy Wells
KABC News
