Has Proposition 13 benefitted or harmed California thus far?

[KC6ZLV]

Originally Posted by Ultrarunner

The quick answer is Politicians in Fresno and Clovis were unable to convince voters of the necessity to raise taxes... perhaps the perceived benefit didn't outweigh the added costs?

The politicians didn't care. It was a group of people who seemed to think everyone else should pay more taxes for the projects they want. This mentality is part of California's budget problem. Everyone wants the taxpayers to pay for what they want, or pay for their personal issues, then they complain about the lack of funding for the things taxes should be used for. Schools, police, fire, education, etc.

It doesn't matter how much they increase the assessment. They can double the value of the property if they want. They can only increase property tax by 2%, and that is why people voted for Prop 13.

If income and property taxes are low, I'm ok with taxes on phones, cable TV, etc. These taxes distribute the tax burden across the entire population. I don't care how poor someone says they are. If they can afford cable TV, they can afford to pay taxes on it and contribute something to the tax base.

[Ultrarunner]

Originally Posted by KC6ZLV

The politicians didn't care. It was a group of people who seemed to think everyone else should pay more taxes for the projects they want. This mentality is part of California's budget problem. Everyone wants the taxpayers to pay for what they want, or pay for their personal issues, then they complain about the lack of funding for the things taxes should be used for. Schools, police, fire, education, etc.

It doesn't matter how much they increase the assessment. They can double the value of the property if they want. They can only increase property tax by 2%, and that is why people voted for Prop 13.

If income and property taxes are low, I'm ok with taxes on phones, cable TV, etc. These taxes distribute the tax burden across the entire population. I don't care how poor someone says they are. If they can afford cable TV, they can afford to pay taxes on it and contribute something to the tax base.

Well, I'm not poor... but, I've never lived in a home with cable and I won't pay for a cell phone...

I used to manage a number of low income rentals and every home had cable without exception and at that time... at least two phone lines...

I successfully appealed my tax assessment last year based on comparable area sales... my taxes dropped 20% as a result...

This year, my taxes are almost exactly what they were before last years appeal... the 2% rule doesn't apply when a temporary market value reduction is granted... it really is temporary.

[steven_h]

Originally Posted by nmnita

I do not believe it harmed California one bit, what is killing the state is over spending.....and too much welfare, plus over-priced real estate to be mention a few things...What California isn't getting in property taxes they are getting in every other kind of taxes...

Nita

I agree... Californians are the most over taxed and under serviced citizens in the country. Can you imagin what they'd be taxing property by now if 13 hadn't passed?

We are in the pockets of the special interests, not by choice of our own, by political ideologues that have been voted into power. What's worse is that anyone living outside LA, SF and Sacra-mental don't seem to have any voting power at all. Look at what they've done to Fresno and the central valley.

Because of very liberal (with our money) politicians in the CA Congress, we will remain bankrupt for years to come. Let's not forget that they will also have their hands out to the FEDs (making us servants/ATMs to Washington) just to stay afloat. With Brown becoming Governor again, Boxer, Feinstein and the 12-14 other Democratic Socialists who represent us we're all set to be the worst state in the Union, for business anyway. People here seem to vote for ideology rather than common sense.

I hate to say it, but Texas (completely solvent) and possibly the future Florida are looking pretty good to me at the moment.

[Lovehound]

Originally Posted by steven_h

Because of very liberal (with our money) politicians in the CA Congress, we will remain bankrupt for years to come. Let's not forget that they will also have their hands out to the FEDs (making us servants/ATMs to Washington) just to stay afloat. With Brown becoming Governor again, Boxer, Feinstein and the 12-14 other Democratic Socialists who represent us we're all set to be the worst state in the Union, for business anyway. People here seem to vote for ideology rather than common sense.

I have to believe that a majority of California voters want that. Why else would they elect so many Democrats?

[steven_h]

Originally Posted by Lovehound

I have to believe that a majority of California voters want that. Why else would they elect so many Democrats?

It's not the majority. Because of the way the districts are devided the people who live outside of LA, SF, Santa Cruz, Alameda, Oakland, SB, SD and Sacra-mental have almost no real voting power. Do you think the people in Visalia and the central valley chose to have their water shut off? The rest of the country doesn't even know what these wack-job Liberals are doing to this state.

I believe that the unions, government employees, special interests, and conservationists run the show here in Cali. The first two don't give a crap as long as they get their checks, even if it means everyone will lose because of unsustainable debt. Special interests don't care about the right thing. They only care about their thing. And conservationists... well, they can't see past the trees they're trying to save. How many times can a drowning state come up for air? I suppose it doesn't matter as long as the air and water are clean while drowning.

God help California, unfortunately I fear he moved out of this state a while back. (late 1974 to be exact)

[Lovehound]

Originally Posted by steven_h

It's not the majority. Because of the way the districts are devided the people who live outside of LA, SF, Santa Cruz, Alameda, Oakland, SB, SD and Sacra-mental have almost no real voting power. Do you think the people in Visalia and the central valley chose to have their water shut off? The rest of the country doesn't even know what these wack-job Liberals are doing to this state.

I believe that the unions, government employees, special interests, and conservationists run the show here in Cali. The first two don't give a crap as long as they get their checks, even if it means everyone will lose because of unsustainable debt. Special interests don't care about the right thing. They only care about their thing...

I'll agree to most of that. They'll take the beast down (California) even knowing that when the beast dies their jobs die too (unions, government employees) and the rest (special interests) will just cash out their profits and move on, wait for the scorched ground (California) to regrow, ripe for a new round of napalm.

[sonoranrat]

I think with the awful state of CA finances, it is quite clear that Prop 13 has mostly harmed CA. There is not really any other sane conclusion possible.