Rio Linda Online News
  • Support Local News
  • Organizations
  • About Rio Linda Online
    • Our Editorial Team
    • Ownership and Funding Information
    • Corrections Policy
    • Rio Linda Messenger Ethics Policy
      • Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics
    • Fact-Checking Policy
    • Right to be Forgotten Policy
Sunday, May 18, 2025
  • Login
  • TipLineNEW!
  • News
    • News Briefs
    • The Big Picture
    • Tech News
    • Video
  • Local
    • RLE Parks Activity Guide
    • RLE Parks Events
    • RLE Parks Programs
    • RLE Parks Registration
    • RLE Parks Contact
  • Sports
  • Business
    • AdvertisingNEW!
  • Opinion
    • Community Voices
  • Community Calendar
  • Obituaries
  • Podcast
  • DonateNEW!
    • Donors
No Result
View All Result
  • TipLineNEW!
  • News
    • News Briefs
    • The Big Picture
    • Tech News
    • Video
  • Local
    • RLE Parks Activity Guide
    • RLE Parks Events
    • RLE Parks Programs
    • RLE Parks Registration
    • RLE Parks Contact
  • Sports
  • Business
    • AdvertisingNEW!
  • Opinion
    • Community Voices
  • Community Calendar
  • Obituaries
  • Podcast
  • DonateNEW!
    • Donors
No Result
View All Result
Rio Linda Online News
No Result
View All Result
Home Opinion

Commentary: Forty-two years later, another property tax battle

by John Todd
5 years ago
in Opinion
0
Commentary: Forty-two years later, another property tax battle

The California State House on August 12, 2019. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

BY DAN WALTERS, SEPTEMBER 21, 2020

It’s been 42 years since California voters sharply altered the state’s political dynamics by overwhelmingly passing Proposition 13 to slash property taxes, ignoring virtually unanimous opposition from leaders of both political parties.

It’s also been 42 years since Proposition 13’s opponents — public employee unions and others with stakes in government spending — first began plotting how to overturn it.

They assumed, or hoped, that the state Supreme Court would invalidate it. But a generally liberal court refused to do so. They hoped that voters would quickly change their minds once the reduction of revenues affected local government services and schools. That didn’t happen either.

In fact, in polling year after year, Proposition 13 proved to be enduringly popular with voters, despite criticism that it unfairly favored some homeowners over their neighbors and was a windfall to owners of commercial properties, such as office buildings, warehouses and hotels.

Even when California began its historic political evolution from a somewhat conservative state to one of the nation’s bluest bastions, Proposition 13 seemingly remained untouchable, as demonstrated by Jerry Brown’s attitude towards it.

He was a governor seeking his second term when it appeared on the June 1978 ballot and, like other political figures of the time, opposed it, calling it “a ripoff.” But as soon as it passed by a nearly 2-to-1 margin, Brown declared himself to be a “born-again tax cutter” and sponsored a state income tax reduction to align himself with what the media called “a tax revolt.”

Thirty-two years later, when Brown returned to the governorship and faced a severe state budget crisis, he was frequently asked whether it was time to repeal Proposition 13 but consistently ducked it. He did, however, sponsor a state income tax increase that, in spirit, undid the tax cut he and the Legislature had quickly enacted in 1978.

Meanwhile, the union-led anti-Proposition 13 coalition continued to seek ways to attack it, finally settling on what’s called a “split roll” to partially remove some of the tax limits on commercial property while maintaining those for residential real estate. After many false starts, the coalition decided that the 2020 presidential election, with anti-Donald Trump sentiment likely to spark a big turnout of Democratic voters, would be the moment.

That’s how Proposition 15 came to appear on November’s ballot. If passed, it would raise taxable values on commercial property to current market levels, raising as much as $12 billion a year for local governments and schools.

However, the measure’s backers had no way of knowing that the COVID-19 pandemic and the severe recession it spawned would visit themselves on California, changing the tenor of their battle with business groups over the issue.

While proponents argue that the new revenue is needed to keep vital public services, including schools, from being slashed, opponents argue that with businesses already suffering, this is the wrong time to saddle them with more taxes.

Gov. Gavin Newsom lent his support to the measure this month, saying “it’s a fair, phased-in and long-overdue reform to state tax policy (and) it’s consistent with California’s progressive fiscal values…”

However, a few days later, the Public Policy Institute of California released a new poll indicating that support is, to say the least, tepid with just 51% of likely voters inclined to vote for it before opponents unleash a multi-million-dollar advertising barrage against it.

Both proponents and opponents know that Proposition 15 is a proxy battle over whether Proposition 13 is still an untouchable icon. It’s showdown time after 42 years of skirmishing.

This article has been republished with permission from CalMatters.

John Todd

John Todd

Born and raised in Rio Linda, a graduate of Rio Linda High School, and a resident for most of the last 50 years. Co-Chair for the Rio Linda Elverta Neighborhood Association, announcer for Rio Linda Knights Football, Rio Linda Christmas Light Parade, and Rio Linda Little League Parade, Original keeper of the Archway Lights, and outspoken advocate for the Rio Linda Elverta community.

Related Posts

The Gift of Holiday Decorations

The Gift of Holiday Decorations

December 16, 2024
PC Magazine names Rio Linda as one of the Best Work-From-Home Cities for 2022

Editorial – How Long Will We Endure Mary Harris?

April 24, 2024
OP-ED: Yet again, Rio Linda/Elverta is disregarded

OP-ED: Yet again, Rio Linda/Elverta is disregarded

June 28, 2022 - Updated on September 19, 2023
Guest Opinion: Rio Linda Elverta Moral Fiber

Guest Opinion: Rio Linda Elverta Moral Fiber

March 1, 2022
Guest Opinion: Rio Linda has a Drug Problem

Guest Opinion: Rio Linda has a Drug Problem

February 23, 2022
How to cure local news without accidentally poisoning it

How to cure local news without accidentally poisoning it

June 4, 2020
Next Post
March 23 Sacramento County COVID-19 Update

Updated Sacramento County Public Health Order Relaxes COVID Restrictions Further

AdBlocker Message

Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements from local Rio Linda and Elverta merchants to our visitors. Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker.

Buy us a Coffee?

Rio Linda Online News

914 Oak Ln #3
Rio Linda, CA 95673
916-289-6436
Contact/Feedback
Submit Story Idea

About

About Rio Linda Online
Advertising
CA PC 409.5
California Public Notice Law
Corrections Policy
Crime & Safety Contacts
Fact-Checking Policy
Frequently Asked Questions

Contact

Anniversary Announcement
Birth Announcement
Letter To The Editor
Obituary
Submit Story Idea
Wedding Announcement

Our Portfolio

Rio Linda Online
Rio Linda News
RioLinda.Net
RioLindaElvertaNews.com
RioLindaOnlineNews.com

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Contact

© 2025 RioLindaOnline.com

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • TipLine
  • News
    • News Briefs
    • The Big Picture
    • Tech News
    • Video
  • Local
    • RLE Parks Activity Guide
    • RLE Parks Events
    • RLE Parks Programs
    • RLE Parks Registration
    • RLE Parks Contact
  • Sports
  • Business
    • Advertising
  • Opinion
    • Community Voices
  • Community Calendar
  • Obituaries
  • Podcast
  • Donate
    • Donors

© 2025 RioLindaOnline.com