Last month, San Francisco Assessor Philip Y. Ting launched a campaign to alter Proposition 13. This is an idea that is long overdue.
Now, before you start to get all red in the face, hear me out. I voted for Prop. 13 thirty-one years ago myself. But I was wrong. The idea of cutting gov’t waste and helping old folks keep their homes was irresistible. What we didn’t notice was that this new law covered not just residences but commercial properties as well. Which means sweet profits for all those businesses on the “right side” of Prop 13, and an uphill battle for all those on the other side. Completely unfair. Worse, the law requires a 2/3 majority of the legislature before any new taxes can be enacted.
State revenues from sales and income taxes have not been enough, especially in this severe recession. California has borrowed to make up the difference, and now we’re $24 billion in debt. Ting wants to “split” the tax roll, and begin to tax commercial property owners based on current valuations.
Essential services are being cut. Now is the time to change prop 13 and make California great again. We can’t afford this “Sacred Cow”. We never really could.
Posted by Jack McLaughlin 
