SACRAMENTO, CA – Amid recent press reports that California Teachers Association members are less than thrilled about gathering signatures to qualify the $12.5 billion-a-year property tax hike for the November ballot, proponents today are rolling out a series of “endorsements” from a number of people who have already stated their support for the measure, exposing increased desperation to show momentum for a measure that has repeatedly failed to reach majority support in numerous independent public polls.
“Voters already know that the $12.5 billion-a-year split-roll property tax hike will fall on the backs of California families with increased prices for everything they buy and use,” stated Rob Lapsley, president of the California Business Roundtable and co-chair of Californians to Stop Higher Property Taxes. “Destroying Prop 13 and increasing taxes on business means higher costs for a gallon of milk, groceries, gasoline, restaurants, prescriptions, clothing, daycare, health care and more. California already has among the highest cost of living and now is not the time to make things worse.”
Today’s announcement by split-roll proponents isn’t their first attempt to keep their measure afloat. In August of last year, proponents admitted their first split-roll measure was fatally flawed after spending $3.5 million to qualify the measure in 2018. Now, the proponents, who are determined to destroy Prop 13 at any cost, could be spending double that amount to qualify a measure that consistently tests under 50 percent in independent public polls.
In November of last year, the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) found that only 46 percent of likely voters support the split-roll measure, the lowest the measure tested all year, marking a downward trend. Earlier polls in September found just 47 percent of likely voters support the tax hike, and in January, PPIC announced only 49 percent of likely voters were persuaded by the measure.
“Again, and again, public polls show that Californians oppose the largest tax increase in state history, and we don’t blame them,” said Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association. “California already has the highest state sales, income and gas taxes, pushing families and businesses out of state in droves. The split-roll property tax will only make things worse, and Californians know that if this measure passes, proponents will come after Prop 13 protections on their homes next.”
Californians to Stop Higher Property Taxes and Save Prop 13, a coalition of businesses, taxpayers, homeowners and renters, has been fighting to protect Prop 13 and oppose a split roll for more than a decade. For more information, please visit www.StopHigherPropertyTaxes.
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