Preview

California Proposition 13

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1378 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
California Proposition 13
California Proposition 13

Name:

Institution:

California Proposition 13
What is proposition 13?
Property taxes in California have been a controversial issue for very many years. In mid 1978, approximately ⅔ of voters in California passed proposition 13. Before it had been passed, property taxes increased almost annually according to the assessed value of the property. In the 1970s, there was a remarkable growth in the real estate market and the value of homes rapidly went up. Property values were escalating substantially since assessors had to keep assessed values current. On the other hand, increments in the evaluated value were not made annually. Therefore, this led to a huge tax shock for homeowners after every few years.
After Proposition 13 was passed, there are several things that have taken place. The cap of property tax rates was set at 1 percent. This implies that one is supposed to pay property taxes of only up to one percent of the evaluated value of their home. The evaluated value of homes cannot surpass the evaluate value between 1975 and 1976. Also, it can increase in excess of two percent annually according to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). If the ownership of a home changes or modification is made, another evaluation is done according to the current market value. The new value should increase annually at a maximum of two percent every year. Various local agencies have been forced to look for alternative sources of funding due to the reduction in property taxes as a gross percentage of the evaluated value of houses. The aim of Proposition 13 was to safeguard taxpayers from unexpected rises in property taxes, to make it a requirement for voters to approve any increases in taxes, and to allow efficient tax relief.

How Does Proposition 13 Affect California’s Economy?
In 1994, Money Magazine published an article that portrayed the way through which Proposition 13 ruined the economy of California. The article claimed that the snowballing



References: Buffett, W. E. (2003). Warren Buffett Criticizes Journal Reporting. Wall Street Journal, 3, 15. Campbell, B. C. (1998). Tax revolts and political change. Journal of Policy History, 10 (1), 153– 178 Cashill, J. (2007). What 's the Matter With California?: Cultural Rumbles from the Golden State and Why the Rest of Us Should Be Shaking. New York: Simon and Schuster. Reeves, R. (1994). THE TAX REVOLT THAT WRECKED CALIFORNIA Schools, services and criminal justice are failing for lack of funds. It is a warning for America. Money. Retrieved August 28, 2012 from http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/1994/01/01/88570/inde x.htm> Smith, D. A. (1998). Tax Crusaders and the Politics of Direct Democracy. New York: Routledge.

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    Chavez Ravine

    • 1921 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Years ago, there was once a small town called Chaves Ravine within Los Angeles, California and this town was a poor rural community that was always full of life. Two hundred families, mostly Chicano families, were living here quite peacefully until the Housing Act of 1949 was passed. The Federal Housing Act of 1949 granted money to cities from the federal government to build public housing projects for the low income. Los Angeles was one of the first cities to receive the funds for project. Unfortunately, Chavez Ravine was one of the sites chosen for the housing project, so, to prepare for the construction work of the low-income apartments, the Housing Authority of Los Angeles had to convince the people of the ravine to leave, or forcibly oust them from their property. Since Chavez Ravine was to be used for public use, the Housing Authority of Los Angeles was able seize and buy Chavez Ravine from the property owners and evict whoever stayed behind with the help of Eminent Domain. The LA Housing Authority had told the inhabitants that low-income housing was to be built on the land, but, because of a sequence of events, the public housing project was never built there and instead Dodgers Stadium was built on Chavez Ravine. Although Chavez Ravine public housing project was the result of the goodwill and intent of the government, rather than helping the people Chavez Ravine with their promise of low-income housing, the project ended up destroying many…

    • 1921 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Texas Association of Realtors praises Gov. Perry's tax commission for its recommendations to improve the state's current tax structure. The Texas Tax Reform Commission, chaired by former state Comptroller John Sharp, has developed a plan to provide long-term property tax relief and improve public school funding. Texas Realtors support the panel's key proposals—reducing homeowners' tax rate for school operations and maintenance by approximately one-third and imposing a low-rate, broad-based business tax.…

    • 254 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In conclusion, the California Proposition Bill 37 is a “right to know bill” is an unequivocal way for consumers to understand what they are ingesting into their bodies. Genetically modified foods should be clearly labeled and in laymen’s terms for all to understand. Everyone should be allowed to have a clear understanding where their foods come from and what they may contain prior to purchasing and consuming.…

    • 67 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Gov. Bobby Jindal’s tax plan proposal would phase out the states income tax and corporate tax by raising the sales tax throughout the state of Louisiana. In Jindal’s vision, cutting the states income tax and corporate tax in exchange of raising the sales tax, would generate more money for the state of Louisiana. He believed the proposal was part of the answer to budget crisis plaguing Louisiana, but other legislatures did not agree with the proposal. Legislature’s believed the proposal would weigh in to harsh on the poor and benefit the wealthy citizens of Louisiana only. The scrutiny of the tax plan caused Jindal to park the tax proposal (Adelson, 2013). Instead of going forward with the proposal, Jindal asked for the cooperation of legislatures in phasing out the state’s income tax.…

    • 745 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Originally, California was an idolized state as the agriculture, diversity in regions, and diversity in people made it an attractive and financially beneficial place to be. Now California has one of the highest living costs, poor employment rates, low education scores, and a lack of quality public facilities. One of the causes, according to the article "The Fourth Branch of Government," is Governor Hiram Johnson's implementation of a more direct state democracy with referendum, initiative, and recall. The article explains how initiatives are more powerful and dangerous than referendums, which I partly agree with. Then it discusses how direct and indirect initiative differs as well as their consequences, which are true, and how the problems…

    • 156 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Best Essays

    Proposition 30 Reform

    • 452 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Here are a few sources of good information about the reality our country's fiscal and governance issues, and about how economics really works. When you're better informed, you will help keep our politicians accountable for sound policy and enable our economy to provide opportunity for all.Learn more about our federal government's fiscal issuesPeter G. Peterson Foundation: http://www.pgpf.org/Comeback America Initiative: http://keepingamericagreat.org/Learn more about economicsLearnLiberty.org: http://www.learnliberty.org/…

    • 452 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Good Essays

    Prop 30

    • 772 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Every year, the tuition for colleges rises significantly. Our education budget keeps getting cut by the millions. And we as students are struggling to make ends meet just trying to finish up our college education. We need to find a solution to this calamity. With Proposition 30, we might be able to make our first steps down the yellow brick road.…

    • 772 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    The Benefits of the Cahsee

    • 1146 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Cited: Ali, Russlynn. "California at the Crossroads." The Education Trust-West. 22 Aug. 2006. 09 Aug. 2008 .…

    • 1146 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    While it appears that the economy is beginning to recover on the national level, most economists agree that local jurisdictions are still in decline and will continue to be so, at least in the short term. Due to the decline of tax revenues because of Foreclosures County and municipal budgets tend lagging behind the general economy, which is one of the main source of funding…

    • 2022 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    From reading the author's book "Ecology of Fear," Mike Davis' main thesis for writing this book was to make readers become aware of the underlying problems and threats which have existed or currently exist in Southern California and how these problems shape the way we live today and in the imminent future as well. Although Davis did not really provide us with any remedies for the problems facing Southern California, this book made it very clear to the readers that problems do still exist, although at times they may sound subtle in nature. Of the numerous problems which do exist in Southern California, I will discuss only a handful of the problems that Davis provided us insight to. In the following paragraphs, the main problems of Southern California that I will discuss about are suburbanization and how it made Southern California lose its natural beauty and the effects of overdevelopment, the wild fires which occur and similarities and differences the rich and poor communities faced in terms of adversity, how suburbanization brought people closer to the wildlife, and how numerous books and movies portrayed Los Angeles as the center for calamities. The culmination of all these problems clearly shows that there are many glaring weaknesses of Southern California that need to be closely examined.…

    • 1837 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Tanning Risks

    • 4043 Words
    • 17 Pages

    Muther, Christopher. “Taxes we could stomach.” Boston Globe . N.p., 1 Apr. 2010. Web 11 Apr. 2010..…

    • 4043 Words
    • 17 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    California Proposition 64

    • 522 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The topic of marijuana use and legalization has been a controversial discussion. If California Proposition 64 were to be passed, marijuana will be common everywhere. I am placing myself in the timeframe of which I am a parent to children of mine. Kids will be curious on what that “skunky smell” is; and as those kids grow up, they will likely get into marijuana. It is our job as parents to guide our children into the right path.…

    • 522 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    California Dream

    • 804 Words
    • 4 Pages

    In the late 19th century, the discovery of gold in California drew thousands of people in from across the United States and all around the world in a feverish rush to strike rich. Many left everything behind to dare venture into the final frontier of the wilderness that was California. Word quickly spread about a land showered by sunshine and ripe with gold ready for the picking. As a result, the California dream developed and quickly romanticized imaginations all across the world with its promise of easy money and lure of adventure. Today, the California dream stands high like the palm trees that adorn Hollywood boulevard; captivating the hearts of people who wish to live big like movie stars. However, due to overcrowding, unemployment and high living costs, the California dream seems to be nothing more than fool’s gold. California currently finds itself in an economic state of crises that simply makes the California dream unaffordable. It is virtually impossible for the average person to achieve their California dream.…

    • 804 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Property Taxes

    • 529 Words
    • 3 Pages

    A property tax also known as millage tax is a charge on possessions that the holder is obligatory to pay. The tax is imposed by the governing authority of the area in which the property is placed; it can be a national government of country, a federated state, a county/region, or a municipality (In Slovak Republic property tax is the most important income for municipalities). We basically distinguish four general kinds of property: land, improvements to land (which are immobile man-made objects, such as buildings), personal property (transportable man-made objects), and intangible property. Combination of land and developments are called real estate or reality. Under a property tax system, the governing authority implements assessment of the financial value of every single property, and tax is measured in quantity to that value. Methods of property tax utilized differ significantly among different countries. Tax on property is often confused with special assessment tax. There are two basic forms of taxation which are the most popular: first (ad valorem tax) depends on the fair market value of the property. The second one other also called special assessment depends on a special enhancement also named a "benefit" for its reason. The property tax rate is frequently specified as a proportion. To compute the property tax, the local government uses multiplication of the evaluated value of the property by the mill rate and then divide by 1,000. For instance, a property with weighed value of 100,000EUR situated in a municipality with a mill rate of 20 mills would have a property tax bill of 2,000EUR per year. Property tax in Netherlands is imposed on homes on a municipal origin in two fragments: for the individual who lives in the household, and for the landlord of the house. Individuals who rent house are accountable only for the living part of the tax. Australia’s property…

    • 529 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Money Problems

    • 542 Words
    • 3 Pages

    All over the world, the principal initiative most find themselves concerned with has much to do with the control of money. Particularly in America, quandaries often arise as citizens and officials make fundamental efforts to improve society in due course. Numerous articles found in the New York Times have profoundly demonstrated how issues that continue to emerge can promptly be restored with a budget extension. Articles dated only days apart, “Treatment, Not Jail, for the Mentally Ill”, “Many weight-loss Ideas Are Myths, Not Science, Study Finds”, and “Ex-teacher And a Priest Are Convicted in Abuse Case” all go to show how enduring predicaments can elongate without the necessary funds.…

    • 542 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays