Monday, February 27, 2012

Prop. 13

KTMS Commentary


With our state once again in fiscal crisis, Prop. 13 often gets revisited as a point of reference. A Sacramento Bee editorial some time back raised a provocative analysis of Prop. 13’s long-term impact, and it bears repeating. 

The piece said that nearly 40 years ago voters passed Prop. 13 to curb runaway property taxes. But “little did they suspect they also were weakening their own ability to … control government.”

The Bee’s editorial pointed out that as a control on property taxes, Prop. 13 has been a great success. It stopped the inflation-driven rise in property taxes that caused tax bills on homes to skyrocket.

“But that was obtained at a big price — in tax fairness, in lost services and declining schools, in distortions in land use.”

The Bee asked:  “If California set out to redesign its tax system, would even Prop. 13’s most avid defenders choose to re-create what we have now?” 

It pointed out that as a result of Prop. 13, big houses in the wealthiest neighborhoods get tax bills lower than starter homes bought last week by young families. 

And that established firms pay lower taxes than upstart competitors down the block.

Plus, power was moved from local communities to the state Capitol, which now controls how money is divided among schools, counties, and cities.

The Bee claimed this adds to cynicism and discontent. It also adds to the state’s dire financial situation.

Sounds right.