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hey California, LET'S TALK ABOUT PROP 13!
What IS Prop 13 (passed in 1978)?
What IS Prop 13 (passed in 1978)?
Prop 13 is often referred to as "the third rail" of California politics because of how untouchable it's been.
It froze property taxes both in terms of rates AND how a property is valued in the first place. It was a "victory" for property owners and a huge loss for everyone else
It froze property taxes both in terms of rates AND how a property is valued in the first place. It was a "victory" for property owners and a huge loss for everyone else
What does that mean? It means that if Disney bought a shit ton of property before 1978, the corporate property taxes they pay now are based on what that property was valued at when they bought it decades ago--NOT based on what that property is worth now.
For example:
For example:
Disney bought Golden Oaks ranch in 1959. The 315-acre property outside the San Fernando Valley cost them $300,000 at the time. That's the value they're taxed on.
A comically low estimate of what that land is worth now would be in the tens of millions of dollars. It's worth more.
A comically low estimate of what that land is worth now would be in the tens of millions of dollars. It's worth more.
Prop 13 may have "saved" Californians from paying high property taxes, but we are actually still taxed at some of the highest rates overall -- it's just distributed terribly and many of our taxes are regressive. This means many taxes are not levied on a sliding scale.
For example, California has a relatively high sales tax.
So if a billionaire buys an apple and a garment worker buys an apple, both people pay the same amount of taxes on that apple... ~7.25%
So...
So if a billionaire buys an apple and a garment worker buys an apple, both people pay the same amount of taxes on that apple... ~7.25%
So...
If the apple cost $1 then the tax is ~7 cents.
But 7 cents is a much higher percentage of the garment worker's net worth than it is of the billionaire's.
But they both pay the same into the system. The burden on the working class person is disproportionately high.
But 7 cents is a much higher percentage of the garment worker's net worth than it is of the billionaire's.
But they both pay the same into the system. The burden on the working class person is disproportionately high.
Things like property tax, income tax, and overall wealth taxes are NOT regressive but, instead, have people paying into the system proportionately for what they can afford.
Prop 13 cut us off from a large source of this kind of equitable taxation and we're suffering for it
Prop 13 cut us off from a large source of this kind of equitable taxation and we're suffering for it
Prop 13 has had a disproportionate impact on younger generations
https://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-friedersdorf-prop-13-20180604-story.html
https://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-friedersdorf-prop-13-20180604-story.html
But the most sinister impact of Prop 13 has been the decimation of the California Public School system which, prior to Prop 13, was among the top 10 best school systems in the country. Now, despite being the wealthiest state with the most billionaires, it's in the bottom 10
Before Prop 13, California public schools relied heavily on property taxes for funding.
(though it is a bit more complicated than just that -- you can read about it in this article)
Prop 13 gutted that source of funding https://www.kpbs.org/news/2010/mar/26/prop-13s-impact-schools/
(though it is a bit more complicated than just that -- you can read about it in this article)
Prop 13 gutted that source of funding https://www.kpbs.org/news/2010/mar/26/prop-13s-impact-schools/
CA now spends 6x more per incarcerated person than we do per student per year.
We spend $81,000 per incarcerated person
and only $11,495 per student
How we spend money is a direct reflection of our priorities.
Our states prioritizes imprisoning people over educating them
We spend $81,000 per incarcerated person
and only $11,495 per student
How we spend money is a direct reflection of our priorities.
Our states prioritizes imprisoning people over educating them
Since Prop 13, California schools only get 22% of their funding from property taxes -- and those funds are particularly low because of artificially lowered rates and valuations.
In most states, property taxes make up a significantly higher percentage of their school funding
In most states, property taxes make up a significantly higher percentage of their school funding
But this isn't just a funding issue.
California's general population is ~59% white,
but white students only make up ~22% of the California Public School student body
So this funding issue is a segregation issue because issues of race and class are inextricably linked
California's general population is ~59% white,
but white students only make up ~22% of the California Public School student body
So this funding issue is a segregation issue because issues of race and class are inextricably linked
CA Public schools are under-funded because rich white property owners avoid paying into the system, then they don't want their rich white kids going to under-funded schools, so they send them to private school & leave our under-funded public schools to working class families
Prop 13 has been an untouchable bc its proponents have scaremongered people into thinking overturning it means losing their homes
But this moment in history, when the bullshit & lies of capitalism are laid bare, is a unique opportunity to finally chip away at this legislation...
But this moment in history, when the bullshit & lies of capitalism are laid bare, is a unique opportunity to finally chip away at this legislation...
This November Proposition 15 is on the ballot in CA and it seeks to close the corporate loophole in Prop 13.
Commercial properties worth $3million or more would pay property taxes based on their ACTUAL valuation, adjusted for inflation. Not their mid-century valuation
#YesOn15
Commercial properties worth $3million or more would pay property taxes based on their ACTUAL valuation, adjusted for inflation. Not their mid-century valuation
#YesOn15
This measure is also known as the Schools And Communities First Act
It puts $12 billion back into CA state revenue, 60% of which is earmarked exclusively for public schools and the rest goes to parks, public health, libraries and other services #YesOn15 https://www.yes15.org
It puts $12 billion back into CA state revenue, 60% of which is earmarked exclusively for public schools and the rest goes to parks, public health, libraries and other services #YesOn15 https://www.yes15.org
It's just a first step. It exclusively addresses commercial properties and does not apply to agricultural or residential properties -- a fact that makes it more appealing to many
(though fuck that shit, tax it all, says me! but that's for a future proposition)
(though fuck that shit, tax it all, says me! but that's for a future proposition)
Prop 13 has been such a sinister drain on this state for so long and it is long past time we did something about it.
So please join me in supporting Prop 15 and help spread the word about it! Also...
So please join me in supporting Prop 15 and help spread the word about it! Also...
I just RSVPed to this Schools & Communities First Act (Prop 15) info event hosted by @DSA_LosAngeles and you should too! Prop 15 is a first step towards chipping away at the disastrously harmful consequences of Prop 13 https://actionnetwork.org/events/dsa-rally-yeson15/?fbclid=IwAR3dVupJhd9tvTo9ks4BHudSph2x8seohcPqBUvTmRjTcOihQUckLYNKEd0
OH and one last unique and tricky part of Prop 13 is that it requires a two-thirds majority in both legislative houses for future increases of any state tax rates or amounts of revenue collected, including income tax rates.
