Must stop the proposed California constitutional amendments on tax increases to avoid opening up the floodgate to tax increases
The new Legislature is dominated by unethical pro-tax politicians. The following bills, which undermine taxpayers’ protections in Proposition 13, have been introduced. If approved, they could cost every family thousands of dollars and hurt the economy. It would simply open up the floodgate for more property tax and sales tax. Please definitely contact your state legislators to express your strong opposition to these proposed constitutional amendments.
Senate Constitutional Amendment 3 (SCA 3), Mark Leno (D—San Francisco): Lowers the threshold for school district per parcel property taxes from two-thirds to 55%. This makes it easier to increase property taxes above Proposition 13's one percent cap.
Senate Constitutional Amendment 4 (SCA 4), Carol Liu (D—La Canada) and Senate Constitutional Amendment 8 (SCA 8), Ellen Corbett (D—San Leandro): Lowers the threshold for the imposition, extension or increase of local transportation special taxes from the Proposition 13-mandated two-thirds vote to 55%. Most transportation special tax increases consist of very regressive sales tax hikes. California taxpayers, especially Bay Area residents, already pay the highest state sales tax in the nation.
Senate Constitutional Amendment 7 (SCA 7), Lois Wolk (D—Davis): Lowers the threshold from two-thirds to 55% in order to approve a bond to fund public library facilities.
Senate Constitutional Amendment 9 (SCA 9), Ellen Corbett (D—San Leandro): Lowers the threshold from two-thirds to 55% to increase special taxes to fund community and economic development projects. This is particularly bad since it can include various projects.
Assembly Constitutional Amendment 4: Lowers the threshold from two-thirds to 55% to increase property tax for public safety including expenses for firemen and policemen.
Tax increases negatively affect consumers’ confidence and ability to purchase, thus plaguing the economy since consumer expenditure accounts for two-thirds of GDP. Poorer economy will give rise to fewer jobs and thus creating a vicious cycle. As a consequence, higher taxes can lead to less tax revenue.
Over-spending and suspicious actions aggravate the situation. A city was found to spend over $700 a square foot only to remodel a public bathroom while the average cost to build a house properly is only between $200 to $300 per square foot! According to a newspaper, contractors spent over $600,000 to promote a tax increase measure in a county. Are they getting billions of dollars of contracts if that measure was passed?! Please check the public expenses especially public capital expenditures of your area before voting for more taxes.
To conclude, it is imperative to urge legislators now to vote No on the above-mentioned constitutional amendments to stop the disastrous results of opening up the floodgate for continuous higher sales tax and property tax in California.
Senate Constitutional Amendment 3 (SCA 3), Mark Leno (D—San Francisco): Lowers the threshold for school district per parcel property taxes from two-thirds to 55%. This makes it easier to increase property taxes above Proposition 13's one percent cap.
Senate Constitutional Amendment 4 (SCA 4), Carol Liu (D—La Canada) and Senate Constitutional Amendment 8 (SCA 8), Ellen Corbett (D—San Leandro): Lowers the threshold for the imposition, extension or increase of local transportation special taxes from the Proposition 13-mandated two-thirds vote to 55%. Most transportation special tax increases consist of very regressive sales tax hikes. California taxpayers, especially Bay Area residents, already pay the highest state sales tax in the nation.
Senate Constitutional Amendment 7 (SCA 7), Lois Wolk (D—Davis): Lowers the threshold from two-thirds to 55% in order to approve a bond to fund public library facilities.
Senate Constitutional Amendment 9 (SCA 9), Ellen Corbett (D—San Leandro): Lowers the threshold from two-thirds to 55% to increase special taxes to fund community and economic development projects. This is particularly bad since it can include various projects.
Assembly Constitutional Amendment 4: Lowers the threshold from two-thirds to 55% to increase property tax for public safety including expenses for firemen and policemen.
Tax increases negatively affect consumers’ confidence and ability to purchase, thus plaguing the economy since consumer expenditure accounts for two-thirds of GDP. Poorer economy will give rise to fewer jobs and thus creating a vicious cycle. As a consequence, higher taxes can lead to less tax revenue.
Over-spending and suspicious actions aggravate the situation. A city was found to spend over $700 a square foot only to remodel a public bathroom while the average cost to build a house properly is only between $200 to $300 per square foot! According to a newspaper, contractors spent over $600,000 to promote a tax increase measure in a county. Are they getting billions of dollars of contracts if that measure was passed?! Please check the public expenses especially public capital expenditures of your area before voting for more taxes.
To conclude, it is imperative to urge legislators now to vote No on the above-mentioned constitutional amendments to stop the disastrous results of opening up the floodgate for continuous higher sales tax and property tax in California.